Here are a few photos that I snapped on the action setting of my Canon this week, during Petal Rose’s Yellow Belt Test…

The photos are a bit grainy.  I am not sure what lighting adjustments I need to make for the excercise setting indoors, but I hope these pictures bring a smile to you as you enjoy our little Warrior Princess, the Defender of Justice.

In Bad Girls of the Bible, Liz offers a clear-sighted, life-changing approach to understanding those “other women” in Scripture—Delilah, Jezebel, Rahab, Lot’s wife, and six more. Liz combines a contemporary fictional retelling of their stories with a solid, verse-by-verse study of their lives and the lessons we can learn from them.

Whether they were Bad to the Bone, Bad for a Moment, or Bad for a Season, but Not Forever, these infamous sisters show us how not to handle the challenges of life. With trademark humor and heartfelt encouragement, Liz teaches us how to avoid their tragic mistakes and joyfully embrace God’s grace.

This book arrived about 2 weeks ago, and i really did think i could read it.  Having been a bad girl who is now saved by grace, and having learned many things the hard way, i thought that i could learn a few lessons from those who have gone before me.  Well, i tried to read it, but honestly, this book is not  for me.

Just recently i shared with a friend why my family won’t be attending the really big Easter production in our city…i am very careful about the graphic images that we take in.  And the written images in this book are ones that i simply don’t need.  This may be a useful tool for others, but not for me.  While the Bible certainly does mention scandalous behaviors and women, most of the Bible isn’t written in an alluringly graphic way.

So, this is my honest non review, of a book that was sent to me by the publisher.  There are many other much more thorough reviews of this book, if you are interested, you can read some of them here.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review as a part of their Blogging for Books program.

Something for Fruit Salad…

The offender

Impressed our own gymnast!

Marme will head out later today to put longer string on the feeder, lets see just how acrobatic this squirrel is!

My little, well not really that little anymore, sketchers really enjoy their Sketch Tuesday assignments.  Honestly, since starting to participate with Harmony Art Mom’s weekly sketch assignments I find my children sketching frequently, beyond the assigned project.  They are encouraging me with their enthusiasm to give it a try myself soon!

To see the slideshow of all this week’s great sketches, go here.  And if you want to join us next week, for FRUIT SALAD sketching, go here to learn the details.

gifts appear everywhere, too often to write down each one, too numerous to remember all at the end of the day…

#s 466-482
This day
Afternoon quiet time

Miss Sunshine made it for our St Patrick Day lunch of Irish Stew, Irish Soda Bread and Apple Cobbler.
Healthy chicks
Hot Air Balloon over the house on a beautiful quiet morning
Saturday morning walk with the dog
Easy Nachos for lunch, delight 3 girls
Kitchen Aid mixer that also grates cheese 
Field trip opportunity arises during an afternoon walk
Green haze atop a neighbor’s tree
Robins all over the place!
Gentle brisk walks with a pup that is learning.
Planning and dreams
Sensing we may be “home” at the neighborhood church
Warm welcomes
Daughters who like each other
Mercy new everyday

 A while back I posted about Emilda and the needed funds to send her to the Special Olympics in Athens, Greece this summer.  Our family decided how much we were able to give and began brainstorming in how we could further contribute or raise funds.  About a week ago I checked the Compassion International site to see how things were going in fundraising for Emilda’s opportunity to attend the Special Olympics in Greece this summer.

How delighted I was to see that this opportunity is now fully funded!

It’s exciting to see how God moves in the hearts of His people and things happen!  And I am looking forward to an update from Compassion when the Olympics happen this summer.

a sketch of Marme wearing the Daughters’ Heart necklace, by Chica

So I come from a long line of bitter women.  And from a childhood of horrid abuse and neglect.  And the roots of bitterness sunk deep within my own heart as a young woman, choking the life right out of my life. I am so thankful, daily, moment by moment, of the journey of forgiveness and choosing of JOY that my HEAVENLY FATHER and precious husband are walking me through!

Over the last week I alluded to the fact that some scars had been rubbed raw, and were sore once again. 

But as I came out of that time of pain remembered, something new had sprouted from my heart.  Fresh roots of peace.  What happened is in the past.  What happened is forgiven and healed.  BUT, it is still a part of me.  Woven into my BEing like a part of the pattern in the fabric of a beautiful dress.  So the garment of life I wear is woven of all of my life.  And all of it, together, is becoming something beautiful.

Thank you for sharing your story Maribeth. And ANN, thank you for sharing yours daily and through your book. You are part of the landmarks and standing stones the LORD is walking me through on this journey of laying down bitterness and embracing joy, grace, mercy, gratitude.

  linking up with the gratitude community…

a few pieces of gratitude from my growing list #459-468

Hearing that my husband has placed his children’s hearts over his career.
Seeing that his employer moved the meeting.
Witnessing that God honors these priorities.
Hearing the harmonica play Silent Night (in March)
Hearing the harmonica and piano play When the Saints somewhat together.
Reading delightful stories from Mae’s pen.
Wearing the beautiful beaded bracelet of 3 strands, made in an evening by sisters.

Book Description

Best-selling author Calvin Miller has written an in-depth, biblical based study on the Fruits of the Spirits (Galatians 5:22). This unique study guide, part of the Fruit of the Spirit Study Guide Series, which is focused on cultivating Spirit-given character can be used as a personal study or in a small group setting. Companion Fruit of the Spirit Study Guide Series that are available include: Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodnesss, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Features include:
•Lesson overview of each 6-week study
•Questions for reflection
•Character studies
•Bonus parable study
•Questions for small group discussion

LOVE.  We use the word so easily, so often, but do we really know what it means?

This six week study is a part of the Fruit of the Spirit Study Guide Series by Calvin Miller, as already stated.  It is a gentle, but deeper discussion on the definition of love, as defined by God’s word.  I really enjoyed the Scripture references from both the Old and New Testaments.  In this season of my life, I usually avoid topic studies, but I appreciate the opportunity to read this book as I look for materials to use in discipleship opportunities. 

Each week’s lesson is broke into 6 days of looking at different aspects of that week’s topic (The Evidence of Love is Giving, Love Forgives, The Definition of God, God’s Passion for His World, Unconditional Longing of God, The Incarnational Force of God) and a 7th day option for group discussion.  The lessons include study questions for personal reflection and group discussion questions.

This study is probably more suitable for the new believer, or for the young believer.  I am considering using this series with a group of middle school girls in the near future, as a tool to help them sort through all the messages they hear from the world, through media, from the Church as to what Love truly is.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but was asked to give my honest opinion.