The drawing will be on August 9.

linking up with Hip Homeschool Moms

The Fire Sword opened today.  The stars arrived in fashion, dressed for the red carpet, via limo.  We had a wonderful time at the opening showing!

Leslie has the winning entry for this giveaway.  Contact me by email with your mailing address Leslie!

While each story in this book offers hope and has inspiring points, it is a difficult book to read.  More than likely, each one of us has our own story of survival in the midst of other peoples choices and consequences that storm our lives.  But, pushing past the shock and the tactics of survival, we have a choice to make.  Choosing to live in the midst of the fallout from other people’s choices is possible by refusing bitterness, by looking up.  Because, “the fallout of other people’s destructive choices becomes more toxic, more suffocating, when our response is equally caustic.  We don’t climb out of an ash heap by piling more ash.” 

Each chapter of this book highlights a lifegiving response to the trauma created by the actions of others.  A few questions follow each chapter, which I found helpful as I think how I can be a better friend to others going through particular tough times.  And loud and clear is a reminder of the importance of not allowing any bitterness to take root.  More than “hope in the midst of trial” reading, I recommend this book as a tool to glean from for ministering others.

Thank you Litfuse Publicity, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my opinion.

Pantheism is a creed not so much false as hopelessly behind the times.  Once, before creation, it would have been true to say that everything was God.  But God created:  He caused things to be other than Himself that, being distinct, they might learn to love Him, and achieve union instead of mere sameness.

Made for Heaven, by C.S. Lewis

Echo Lake, Mount Evans

linking with Amanda and Amy

Lily Lapp’s family has settled into their new home in Pennsylvania, but life still holds big changes and big steps for Lily. Good changes, like once again living close to her beloved cousin and best friend, Hannah. Bad changes, like a mean girl who plays tricks on her. And no change at all where Lily would most want one–Aaron Yoder sits near her in school and relentlessly teases her. Surprises are in store for Lily as she learns, with Mama and Papa’s help, to manage the ups and downs of growing up Amish.

What a fun story this is!  When the book arrived and I took it out of the packaging I had to hide it from my kids so I could read it first.  The cover totally caught the eyes of my daughters. 

A Big Year for Lily was a quick read and soon I handed it to my 10 year old daughter.  She read it and asked me to see if our local library has Books 1 and 2 of the series.  The library does have the Lily series and Chica has been enjoying reading the books “in order”.

While my children are pretty unfamiliar with Amish life, there were plenty of things in the thoughts of a 10 year old girl that created connections between my daughter and the main character.  It has been good to share this book with Chica and to also explore another culture through the story. 

Here are some thoughts from Chica.

“This was a really good book.  I understood how Lily felt very well.  I feel like I am a friend to Lily and like I know her.  I understood how Lily felt when she got into trouble.  Both of us get into trouble without trying to.” 

The kind of trouble Chica finds herself in is usually a result of her curiosity and exuberance, not naughtiness, much like Lily.  She really is a good kid!

We received this book, A Big Year for Lily from Litfuse Publicity Group, in exchange for our opinion.

Our youngest daughter’s movie debut!

Hope to see you there!