Book Review - A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Mosley

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Mosley

I was so excited to get this book so I would have something with paper pages to read on my cruise.  It was a perfect summer read for me – not too light and not too heavy.  After reading a lot of bad reviews for this book too, I was anxious to find out for myself.

It was actually refreshing to not have the character’s faith all tied up in a neat package.  For most of the book both main characters are very cynical, but there is change and I can see how someone growing in their faith could benefit from seeing a character grow and change.  A mature believer should be able to handle a character grappling with faith issues.

Two of the books themes – forgiveness and sacrifice – have been coming up a lot lately in things that I’m reading.   I thought Mosley handled these themes in an honest way and although I haven’t personally dealt with the specific issues (besides death of a loved one), I’m sure that many have.  I did figure the mystery part out (except for a little tweak) part way through, but that didn’t make it less of a mystery or not worthy of a read.

Like I said – not too light and not too heavy.  It’s a good read.  I enjoyed the time and am glad I read A Stillness of Chimes.

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

One Thousand Gifts

Really - I'm just going to have to deal with the fact that 100 of these aren't digital.  If I wait to "catch up" I won't put any online.

I continue to count gifts and be thankful...

1722  Wiggly clean almost two year old

1723  The love and hospitality of family

1724  The hope of doing it again

1725  Figuring out the right direction

1726 Rain – so many places in need (gifts in water)

1727  J’s expression of adoration for and pleasure in vacationing with is family (words)

1728  Fluffy clouds – something to look at when we drive and I could look at clouds for hours (white)

1729  Five days in the Black Hills

1730  The sound of the water from the back porch fountain

1731  Bug spray

1732  A second way inside the house when the inexperienced in flying birds are flying in the front

1733  Watching them have a flying lesson last Sunday

1734  Starting book number ten for the summer

1735  Teenagers having dinner

1736  Teenagers upstairs

1737  Throwing a tomahawk

1738  New rockers

1739  Knowledge and love (I Cor.)

1740  A kindle for several years and an IPAD now

1741  Sharing family times with true friends

1742  M. going to Inner City Chicago (Gifts in Challenge)

1743  Reading before watching TV (Conflict)

1744  Hubby is in the midst of his job transition (Change)

Not everyone is looking, but I like the close-up.  I can't believe how much they've grown up!

Things I Learned in June

1.  I learned even more about phonics and some new strategies to help readers.  I had the privilege to attend a week long workshop for Structured Language Basics.  I'm looking forward to using it in my classroom and am going to take further training with it over the school year.

Before having dinner, Aunt and I visited a doll museum at a local library.

Although I had to be away from home a week (the one that was being offered in my hometown was going to be while we were away on vacation), Hubby came to visit me one night and Aunt came another for her birthday.  Plus I got 2 books read AND I made a very quick trip to Texas one night to see my niece and nephew.

2.  I learned I can conquer fears and still have a lot of fear.  I did an aerial park with Hubby and the boys.  The obstacles I did were about 25 feet up in the trees (they went on to do higher and more difficult ones without me) and we were tethered the whole time and I survived!  We did things like walk across hanging logs and ropes and grab on to this triangle wood thing and swing to the next platform.  I must say, I was so nervous that I was nauseous, but like I said, I survived.  However, I gave my last hour to my sister in law and took her zipline ride.

M has a cousin, M!  He's 8 - and he finally got tired of waiting for me!

This was after Hubby came across on the wood triangle swing.

Not too much later, I found myself taking the chairlift up the mountain with my nephew and riding an alpine slide down.  We could see Mt. Rushmore from the chairlift!  Here's where the fear comes in: before starting the slide they cautioned us that if we didn't brake around corners, we could flip the sled. So, what did I do? No, not flip, but I used the brake entirely too much!  Next time though, I'll cruise fast and furious down the mountain.  It got me thinking how I use the "brake" in my life when I'm scared. Hmmmm.......

That's it, just two things - after all, I am on summer vacation!

(Normally, when I do these particular posts I link them up at Chatting at the Sky.  However, Emily is on a bloggy break this summer.  Check out her writing though. Emily and Anne at  A Holy Experience are two blogs I try to read somewhat regularly.)

A Surprise in The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn

Lately I have been reading Christian fiction that is heavy on the mystery side with just a little bit romance so when I first picked up The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, I was a bit leery.  That feeling lasted less than a chapter because new author Lori Benton is amazing!  This book had beauty, romance, and adventure!  It even had a mystery that I never saw coming.

Benton does a wonderful job painting beautiful word pictures that make you feel like you know the setting and understand the feelings of the characters.  The book is very fast paced and I enjoyed the historical part.  The Overmountain settlers and The State of Franklin were unfamiliar to me before this reading.

If you'd like to read the blurb, you can find it here.  I absolutely recommend this book!  I also recommend you read it when you have a little time - I read it through in one setting because I couldn't put it down!

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

What I Learned In May

1.  I really can run in to a cousin just about anywhere!  

My sis-in-law jokes around with me about being related to so many people where we live and not really knowing them.  Last Friday night Hubby and I went to a dinner/auction for the University where he works.  The dinner music was a wonderful western group and as we were listening I kept saying to Hubby, that's Bob.  We went back and forth: it is/no it's not and when the song ended Hubby said, "Are you Bob?".  The singer responded, "Hey, we went to the same family reunion" and then yelled across a couple of tables, "Hey, Vicki - your cousin is over here!"  After the auction the band played by the pool and Vicki and I visited.  It was a lovely evening and enjoyable people all at an amazing historical ranch.  Of course I texted all this to sis-in-law (PGG) who responded LOL.

You can see the "ranch house" in the background and the amazing trees in the circle drive.

2.  All those snow days I loved so much this winter didn't seem all that wonderful when I had to go to school after Memorial Day.  

Honestly, we had to give so many tests that once they were all over, I've been coasting.  Well, not coasting so much, but letting 1st grade be focused more on fun than standards.  It's officially end of school - I made our traditional enchiladas that commemorate the occasion. (L found a recipe in a Hank Zipzer book in 4th or 5th grade).

3.  I learned that we weren't the only ones to move home to help with ill/aging family.

Our new principal that was just perfect for our school and we all liked so much is moving.  Both she and her husband have family members that need help.  We all understand, but are apprehensive about what the next year holds.  I've learned so much this year about data and it's been so nice to have such a positive cheerleader.

4.  I should really take care of myself when I know I'm sick.

One Wednesday in mid-may when I went to work I didn't feel well and by noon I was home sleeping the rest of the day.  I went to school Thursday in pain and to the doctor right after school.  Thankfully, I was able to find a sub for Friday (they aren't easy to find on Fridays near the end of school) and thanks to antibiotics was feeling much better by Saturday.  I should have gone to the doctor a whole day and half earlier instead of pretending I wasn't sick.

5.  Teaching someone to drive isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Maybe it's because I didn't do a whole lot of teaching.  I let M. drive in our neighborhood to home.  I wasn't nervous or frantic or anything like that.

I linked this post up at Chatting At The Sky.  Check it out if you'd like!

Summer Bucket List 2014

Last year, I made a summer bucket list and wanted to do the same this year.  Last year was one of the best summers in a long time (not necessarily because of the list).  We had much cooler than normal temperatures (a welcome relief!) and I felt like I had a lot of time at home just "being".

This summer we have lots of away time scheduled and I have some work scheduled, but I'm looking forward to another great time of break from our normal routine.  M. is going to be going on a within the States mission trip and L. will start football conditioning and has already been finding mowing jobs.  Hubby will transition to a new position at work (one he is really looking forward to).  I'm so proud of his success and how much his current position has grown in the almost five years he's been at it.

So here's the list - it's a bit shorter than last.  I didn't include vacation things on it, but I'm looking forward to our plans for that!

1.  Read Captivating and use the journal
2.  Complete some extra work
3.  Take a tour of the new apartments in town (just because M wants to see them)
4.  Visit our town's museum
5.  Run again
6.  Pick blueberries
7.  Go to the Parade of Homes
8.  Clean out the game closet
9.  Read 10 books
10.  Make carpet squares for the Magic Triad (school)
11.  Eat at the cafe in the church down the road
12.  Drive more with M.
13.  Go back to WW
14.  Make contacts for fall college Homecoming
15.  Give J. the dog more attention

Mother's Day

School Projects

L recently had to take eggs with the yolk blown out for a project in Spanish class.  It's a miracle these things ever got done!  I kept getting emails about them and the whole time, I kept thinking it was an extra credit project.  Finally, the Friday before they were due, I got an email reminder with a clarification: this isn't extra credit.....

L and Hubby were camping for the weekend so Sunday afternoon (best time to complete school projects isn't it?) the three of us worked on the eggs.  He turned them in plus a few extras and then on Wednesday, I realize that Friday (Good Friday - a day L was planning on missing at school so he could go to his brother's Good Friday service at school and spend time with visiting family) is when L's class was painting and completing their cascarones.  I emailed L's Spanish teacher and she's such a superstar!  She arranged for him to come to her class from another one on Thursday so he could complete the project.

And he left them at school!  I thought his baby cousin would have enjoyed seeing them crack and the confetti come out.  Silly me, I just now realized you're supposed to crack them "over" and not "on" someone's head!  Anyway, the cascarones finally made it home and I think he did an excellent job.

Yesterday, L. served with a group from National Junior Honor Society at a soup kitchen in the city.

The project today was actually just a paper - and it finally made it to school too.  L. did what he was supposed to and emailed me his essay so I could print it.  I kinda forgot.  So....I emailed it to his teacher this morning. Then I got a call from Hubby who said I needed to print it, the teacher wouldn't take it via email (I'm so thankful M's school takes electronic submission.  I'm thankful for his school for testing reasons too, but that's a rant and I won't go there.)

Hubby then got a frantic call from me because the printer wouldn't work!  I absolutely had to leave so he came home to take care of it. (It gets crazier.)  I forgot something so he met me where I dropped off M. for tennis, but when I grabbed the bag he had brought me, I also grabbed L's paper that Hubby was on the way to school to take!

I realized it and honked and honked.  Hubby stopped and got the paper and headed off to L's school to save the day.  He's our hero!

Did I mention that M. has three weeks of school left and L. and I have four?  We. Are. Ready.