Book Recommendation

We began reading Trial and Triumph last night (thanks Aunt Kathy for yet another great book). Last night we read about John Calvin and tonight we read about C.S. Lewis. The book has stories from the early church all the way to modern times.

What a great privilege we have to teach our children about the history of our faith! And what brave and valiant Christians came before us. We've only just started reading it of course, but what great conversations this book has sparked. Ike is only four, but he listens intently and asks questions now and again. It's never too early to teach little ones about our great faith and it's never to late for us to be reminded/inspired by all the ones who were martyred, persecuted, and mocked for claiming Jesus Christ as their Savior.

I hope you'll read this to your children and to your children's children. We have such a great herritage to pass along to every generation.

Multiple Blessings

I just finished reading Multiple Blessings by Kate Gosselin. Loved it. It's an easy and interesting read. To get a better grip on what it's like to be a mother of multiples (sextuplets nonetheless), I highly recommend it for broadening your understanding of the exhaustion and emotions that come along with the territory. And hey! We could all use more understanding in every department:)

Here I Go Again . . .

My family is known for our high regards for natural medicine. We would choose a natural remedy (if the option is available) before we take a drug. It's who we are and what we do. Go ahead and roll your eyes and start judging us:) We are used to it and quite frankly . . . we don't care what anyone else thinks. Again, it's who we are and what we do.

Now with that in mind, we do have quite a bit of respect for conventional medicine. We have seen firsthand the intense pain prior to death. When the organs start giving way to cancer and start shutting down we've heard the heartbreaking moans of pain. We were all for any sort of pain medicine to make our dear Dad more comfortable as his body prepared itself for his ascension to heaven. I myself opted out of natural childbirth when I could no longer take the burning sensation contractions made in my abdomen. And you better believe I smiled quite happily as I delivered my babies:) Anyway, to make my point clear, I myself have no judgements or opinions on what choices you make as far as medicine goes. It's your body, do what is best for YOU. I am just glad that we have options!

Now with that in mind, our doc recommended a book called Breakthrough by Suzanne Somers (he's well aware of my family's desire for natural medicine before conventional so he always has book suggestions, articles copied for us to read, and he stays on top of the latest natural medicine studies -- not just for us though, he has many "natural-minded" patients). Before you think "what could an actress have to say about medicine?" Well, it's her interviewing many doctors and the discussions are VERY interesting and educational (if you are into all the natural medicine or want to learn more). If you aren't interested, go on your merry way. Who am I to tell you what to do?

Making Art in the Kitchen

This is a GREAT book! Not only does it make a beautiful decoration for the coffee table, but it's so inspiring on the inside! It will take about an hour to read through (it's filled with pictures and apron patterns) and it will make you really want to embrace your domestic side. There are lots of stories about what people remember about the person who wore these beautiful and often simple aprons. So strap on your apron (or find one, make one, buy one, or collect them) and start cooking! After all, loving memories often start in the kitchen!

In our house growing up, winter was my favorite season! My Mom would wear her apron from Germany (not all the time) and she'd make all sorts of soups and fresh homemade wheat bread. Often times this is what we came home to after school. What a treat! Usually along with the fresh bread, she'd also cook up some cinnamon sticky buns. Amazing!

A Nickel's Worth of Skim Milk

After asking Grandma question after question about her childhood and what she remembers about the Depression, she handed me a book called "A Nickel's Worth of Skim Milk." It's a small book on what the author (Robert J. Hastings) remembers about his boyhood during the 1930's. It's a charming book that really changed my perspective on various things. For instance, we haven't been able to spend a lot of time with Bill the past few days due to all the overtime he has been assigned. Although we miss seeing him, I am now grateful for his job more than ever before. During the Depression men would have pounced on any chance to work and overtime just wasn't an option. There are also other small things, like how during the Depression families would gather around the fire to keep warm and made many memories there. Now that central heat and air is quite common in most homes around here, we have other ways to find our family time. To keep cool in the summer families would linger on the shaded porches. Let's just say there was ample family time. Anyway, for anyone interested in a good read or just overly interested in the Depression like me, this book is great.