Good Reads

Here are some good reads I've enjoyed lately:

These two books were finds at the local library. My girls and I like any picture book by Jan Brett; her illustrations are breathtaking! Mossy is a cute story about a turtle that grows a garden on its back. Also impressive are the watercolors and narrative of Say's Grandfather's Journey, the touching story of the author's grandfather's life in Japan and later in the United States. In the library's children's section, my kids look over the chapter books while I peruse the picture books. There's a lot of twaddle among the shelves nowadays, but fortunately, not all the gems have disappeared. I tell my girls, you outgrow some things, but good picture books will never be one of them!

Are you familiar with lovable Lyle, the crocodile? I think I recall him from my own childhood. Bernard Waber's illustrations are familiar from other works as well, with their funny facial expressions. I used to love another of his books, Nobody is Perfik. 

Lyle appears in several books, and what's hilarious is that he carries on as a normal member of society! This particular book deals with the fact that Lyle is the perfect candidate for several jobs, but his owners, Mr. and Mrs. Primm, refuse to let him work. I especially get a kick out of his mother, Felicity, a crocodile who works as a nurse in the hospital maternity ward!


These were some finds at a favorite used book store: 

I wasn't planning to get them, but wanted to glance through them just for fun. This book store seems to know when it has nice, old, rare finds, and will often ask more for them than I'm willing to pay. However, when I saw that the price of each was a mere dollar, I had to rescue them! Look at their charming inside covers! 

 Here are two books that I've enjoyed recently:

Come Home Laughing started out as the Master's thesis of Tanya Lyons, an unknown author, and unraveled into this marvelous book dedicated to adults whose parents divorced when they were children. The design is unique: a fiction story with factual data woven throughout. Sloane and others examine the relationship between their struggles as adults and the wounds they incurred as children. They learn to heal from the inside out through time together doing life, and at an intense retreat to promote healing. Lyons' book is written from a Christian point of view, and shed much light for me personally. This book masterfully tackles issues that a large number of Americans probably have, yet haven't dealt with. I plowed through it in a few days, with laughter, tears, prayer, and note-taking.

 Have you read Corrie ten Boom's classic, The Hiding Place? This was a picture I took to send to my dad, and as I was about to crop it for this blog, I decided it was worth keeping the grass and flops! The photo captures the moment in which I finished this riveting read, the true story of the Christian Dutch family who valiantly harbored Jews in their home during World War II. We get to know the ten Booms twenty years before the war, and are horrified at all they endure during the war for standing firmly against Nazi-perpetrated evils. The faith of Corrie and her family is expressly from God, with no other explanation. I remain astounded at their courage in the midst of unimaginable horrors, one after another. The ten Boom family is well worth making a part of one's "cloud of witnesses."

Finally, this school term, we have a new poet to study: William Wordsworth. At the library book sale last fall, I purchased a volume of his poems (published around 1890) for probably a dollar. How extraordinary to read and copy his poetry directly from a book from that time period! 

Each school year, Charlotte Mason's students studied the poetry of one author for a term of twelve weeks, for a total of three poets per year. We began with Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and I believe our favorite was "The Charge of the Light Brigade." Then came twelve weeks of Emily Dickinson, whose haphazard use of hyphens and capitalization break every punctuation rule I've attempted to teach so far! I personally found her poetry lukewarm, as famous as it became after her death, and never was able to truly endear myself to this reclusive, odd individual. 

Wordsworth's poetry, however, is a breath of fresh air. I think my girls concur; I haven't asked them outright, but I can tell from their attention and expressions that they enjoy his descriptions of childhood, godly things, butterflies, sparrows, and outside play. One can practically feel the fresh air of his poetry, and the heart seems to lighten while reading it. Again, we don't rip it apart in search of meaning; it's there simply to read for pleasure, and to copy for penmanship and spelling practice: 

Why I Don't Need to "Forgive Myself"

Do you find yourself doing as a friend once put it, "Taking old skeletons out of the closet and dancing with them," even after you've asked for forgiveness over and over? I sure do. Why are we in this rut of hanging onto sin and regret, even once we've taken it to God, and even repented? Why can't we let it go?

I've meditated, studied, and talked to God for a long time about this topic. "Lord," I say, help me to believe Psalm 103 with my heart, not just my head. Take the piece of my heart that still has trouble really believing that I'm forgiven." When I take the same sins over and over to the Lord, I know He doesn't remember them. The question is, Why do I harp over them so much?

Tim Keller has a sermon from 1991 in which he addresses this topic, quoting R.C. Sproul, who says that if we suffer from it, it's because "....you're going about your salvation the Smith Barney way; you want to earn it." My biggest issue here, Sproul says, is my pride. He states that it's like saying, "I've got this myself, and I don't need Christ's bleeding charity." Major ouch.

So, now add pride to the list, on top of the heart problem of not being able to "forgive myself." And that's where John Piper comes in. He has much to say on this subject, especially in his short discussion, "Should We Learn to Forgive Ourselves?"  The real issue is, I don't need to learn to "forgive myself" at all, but to receive Christ's redemption on the cross.

A big struggle for me is, ok, I've gotten "forgiveness," but what about the possible ramifications of certain mistakes I've made? The Lord is working on me big-time to see that He handles all of this too. In fact, I had a nudge just today that I can be free to not remember these things at all, because they're not there...the same way that God sees (or, actually, doesn't see!) them now! If I'm going to quote 1 John 1:9 to my children, I'd better ask the Lord to let me believe it deep down myself: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And while I'm at it, what about the aforementioned Psalm 103? "Who forgives us from all our iniquities...As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (verses 3 and 12, my emphasis).

But back to Piper...Here is the gist of his talk:

"Forgiveness is a wronged person forgiving a wronging person, not a wronging person forgiving a wronging person."

"If Jack insults me, and I forgive Jack, why would Jack forgive Jack, when he didn't insult Jack?"

"The Corinthians felt a godly grief (remorse, sorrow); they wronged, and asked forgiveness."

"When people speak of the need to 'forgive themselves,' they mean the need to move through worldly grief over sin to godly grief over sin, and beyond, into life-giving freedom. The difference is moving out of death-giving condemnation to life-giving acceptance of God's no-condemnation."

"The Biblical way out of this self-condemnation is to humble ourselves and admit that we have no right to take the role of judge and pronounce the death sentence on ourselves. That's pride, to think that we can hear God's verdict of 'not guilty,' or our friend's verdict, 'I forgive you,' and we refuse it and set ourselves up as the new judge, and pronounce a death sentence over ourselves. The Biblical problem with that is...an arrogant failure to trust in the free verdict of God: 'No condemnation!'"

"Let's humble ourselves and step down off the judge's seat, and let God be God in His pronouncement of 'No condemnation.'"

This morning I was praying about this very thing as I found myself falling into the trap of feeling like I had to do penance for stuff that Christ's blood has forgiven....and on Good Friday, of all days! I imagined a young me, crouched at His grimy, bloody feet, and I told Him I wanted to feel His rough feet, and even the hard nail driven through them. 

I was really struggling, when the Holy Spirit provided me a simple illustration, one that took me by surprise. Meet my high school principal, Mr. Clarke, "honcho" of the whole place...ahem...twenty-something years ago: 

Suppose, as a high-schooler,  I approach Mr. Clarke with a request: something I desperately want, yet don't deserve (let's say, being excused from class). The principal has the authority to make the call--I don't--and he actually says yes! However, I continue to convince myself that his "okay" isn't good enough. I feel the need to "really earn" his approval, and do something to work toward the "yes," even though he's already given it. Mr. Clarke made the decision as the one who has the authority, and he won't hold over my head that he has given me the okay without my earning it. In fact, it's actually his pleasure to grant my request, and it's my job to receive it freely as a gift, with no guilt. (Note: I cannot compare God to anyone or anything, and I'm not daring to say that my principal or any human is equal to Him. This is simply an illustration I feel was provided to help me see more clearly). 

Back to the present, I feel like my "badness" prevents forgiveness, as if it depended on my actions...in other words, my "performance." As someone I look up to says, if certain things I've done can't be redeemed, God "doesn't get to be God." It's not up to me to be in charge of my own forgiveness! "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, again my emphasis). Christ has the authority to forgive and redeem me and my situations. As with the Mr. Clarke illustration, it's not my call to make. The authority rests on the One and only Savior who calls all the shots. I go to Him in humble submission, trusting Him to be God, because I don't hold that title.

On Good Friday, I choose to remember Him on the tree, bruised, rejected, spit on, mocked, humiliated, because He had the authority to lay down His life. He did it for me and all my junk, so I can be free to stop dancing with those skeletons. Amen!

Thanks to Abby at Little Birdie Blessings for this beautiful graphic!

Inside-Out

I had a discussion recently with someone about "inside-out" change. When we want to change a behavior, we tend to attempt "outside-in" fixes, which end up being band-aids that don't address the root of things. Years and years pass, and all we have to show for our best "outside-in" efforts is wasted time, frustration, exhaustion, and wounds that are still gaping. 

This "inside-out" change has been the topic of many more discussions since the first. The Lord gave me a clear word three years ago: "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23). This "renewal," I've learned, has to be "inside-out," because no "outside-in" solutions work. It's what only the Holy Spirit can do, without my continued interference. I've also learned that this requires me to confess my tendency to "perform," rather than to be still and obey.

We live in a shallow culture, and in many ways, the American church culture looks no different than the world. I'm convinced that "inside-out" transformation is difficult because of our desire for quick fixes, as well as our inability to be vulnerable with others. Part of "inside-out" change requires discovering who we really are, which means taking off well-built masks we wear to cover up the "real us" from the world. God always knows the real identity behind those masks, and they're worth getting to know because they're who He created us to be. The process is an arduous one. 

Even with a week of stress from several directions, I have been mindful of this "good fight of the faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). John Piper says, "Make war!" Nehemiah says, "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes" (4:14). As I felt the fog and fuzzy focus of stress, I recalled Psalm 18:29 and 34: "By my God I can leap over a wall...He teaches my hands to make war."  

A member of my own "Cloud of Witnesses," Barbara Johnson, loved celebrating the first of every month. She would put clean sheets on the beds, or buy a nice bunch of fresh asparagus to cook. I'm remembering her today as I take time this afternoon to do things I enjoy: catching up on this blog, sitting with hot coffee, and reading as the rain falls outside and my girls play within. Here is some wisdom from Barbara: 

(From Mama, Get the Hammer...There's a Fly on Papa's Head!)

Eugene Peterson has a description for Barbara's "no microwave maturity;" he calls it "a long obedience in the same direction." May we never give up fighting in God's strength, for His glory. 

Odds & Ends...

Sweet Eliza presented me with a book that she found at an antique store, that she said was "me." What a joy to know what's really "me," and to have others know it, too. 

This well-loved volume is a collection of sweet illustrations with Bible verses.

 This little fella reminds me of my husband as a boy!

I like the verse that goes with him, too.

This is a list of ladies who presented the book to "Sandra," its original owner. Look at those names! Clara, Thelma, Ione, Bernice, Velma...even Edelweiss!

I love this vintage drawing of different children making a joyful noise!

Speaking of books (one of my favorite topics)... 

Remember Journey Cake Ho!? As most of the "old" books have been chucked from the library and replaced by twaddle, I was surprised to find it there. I have wonderful memories of this being at my elementary school library, and the cover was the same, but green. I read it to my kids one evening and didn't find the story as compelling as the charming illustrations (done by the beloved Robert McCloskey). However, we were tickled by the "journey" cake's "singing;" this, added to the well-remembered images of the cake bouncing downhill, endeared me anew to this book. 

And speaking of cakes...the girls made and decorated these all by themselves: 

They enjoy taking holiday treats to tennis clinics; the kids and coaches enjoy a reward after hard practice!

Something else my girls made: 

We have many more "handicraft" opportunities today than in Charlotte Mason's day! Not only do they spend time and imagination on Legos, there's also slime-making, wooden peg people to paint, and cereal boxes they turn into other crafts!

One more thing, something funny from school this morning: I spotted this drawing of two funny characters in Holling's Minn of the Mississippi... 

...and instantly recalled a photo of two other funny characters, my 3rd great-grandparents, Major Sebastian Wygal, and Rachel Hoge Wilson Wygal: 

The resemblance between them and Holling's drawing is uncanny, although I can't prove that he used these two as models! What do you think? 

Until next time!

Picture Book Ministry

When I was eaten up with regret yesterday morning remembering an ungodly way in which I had behaved, I was surprised to have a familiar verse brought to mind: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9). A new thing to consider is that even in past mistakes, things we want to change but can't, Christ indeed can bring redemption. His grace and strength are the answer in our issues, present, future, as well as past.

The Holy Spirit enabled me to see the connection between this verse and another, one that I mull over when faced with reminders of other incidents I wish I could change. That verse is also in 2 Corinthians, 8:12: "If there is a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have."

My eyes and heart are opened to a direct link! What Paul expresses in one verse, he says with different words in another: When we are helpless, Christ is able. This refers to every moment of every day, past, present, and future, by the way! May we be still enough to hear His quiet, powerful instruction. 

Speaking of powerful instruction....

A wonderful memory I have is that of my dad reading to me as a little girl. I loved the voices he'd use for the characters in picture books. A collection of my books were destroyed by a water leak. I recalled a Babar one that had been a favorite, although I could never remember the title.

A month ago, coming back from a Pens hockey game in Raleigh, we stopped by a massive antiques store in Burlington. Guess what I found...(and in an antiques store!!!!)? 

Immediately I recognized it! I had to have it! And would you believe there were actually two copies in this store?! I took pictures and sent them to my dad, asking if he remembered. Of course he did! I can still hear him changing his voice to fit the characters. Guess who else does that when she reads to her children? 

Woe to the individual past age 8 who discards his or her picture books! May we never, ever grow weary of the richness of these treasures. All too soon, it seems that educators (traditional and home alike) rush to put away the "little kid" books and usher kids into something that seems more "grown-up." Christ Himself states that we are not truly portraying His kingdom unless we demonstrate the innocence of children (Matthew 18:3). 

To quote Charlotte Mason, "...the answer cannot be given in the form of 'Do' this and that, but rather as an invitation to 'Consider' this and that: action follows when we have thought duly. The life of the mind is sustained upon ideas; there is no intellectual vitality in the mind to which ideas are not presented several times...every day." (A Philosophy of Education). So, does that mean that children's books are full of "ideas" and things to "consider"? YES!!!!

How can they not be, if the Creator of the universe tells us to humble ourselves like children, because His kingdom belongs to "such as these"? We sell children short. Mason has much more to say on the subject: 

"But the children ask for bread and we give them a stone...Our business is to give them mind-stuff...for the best thought the world possesses is stored in books; we must open books to children...every modern educational movement tends to belittle them intellectually."

"So," you say, "my kids are eight and nine; shouldn't we be focusing more on chapter books than the skinny ones with pictures?" NO!!!!! Rather, focus on every bit of it! Take your bag to the library and fill it up! Never, never, never fall into the trap of being too "old" for a picture book! All of America needs more doses of good, rich children's literature!

In fact, a few weeks ago, I checked a picture book out specifically for myself, for the "little girl" who so loves to be read to. She still deserves a "mind sustained upon ideas," and "open books" that provide "mind-stuff." That mind-stuff can come out of anything from Charles Spurgeon to Marc Brown's Arthur! Sometimes I check out picture books just for myself!

The other day, one of my children was late getting down to breakfast. I decided to pull out a library book and read aloud while we lingered at the table. The next thing I knew, it was over an hour later, and we'd gone through all the books in the bag! It's a ritual I hope to repeat often.

Here are some that we enjoyed that day:

Earl is a lovable squirrel who can't figure out how to get his own acorns. He cleverly surprises his mother and readers with his smarts, and delights with his innocent charm!



Remember the poem "Casey at the Bat," which you probably read at some point in high school? Endear yourself to it anew with Patricia Polacco's version! This is a wonderful way to introduce a classic to kids.

It hasn't taken much to make me a Polacco fan! Thunder Cake is the creative tale of a girl whose grandmother uses her resources to end the child's fear of thunderstorms. As in Casey, Polacco's illustrations mesmerize.




And who can resist the animals of Jan Brett? She puts great love into her work. The Turnip is the funny story of some animals who aren't sure how their turnip is going to come out of the ground...until they receive unexpected help from some other animal friends!  




Finally, do you remember Mike Mulligan? I had always heard of it, but had never actually read this classic. Boy, had I been missing out! I felt like a kid who, upon the story's ending, wanted to say, "Read it again!" Yeah, that's what picture books do, even to adults.




One adult in my life has alluded to me several times about not being read to as a child, not once. Not once. God has wisdom in this, as in everything else: "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten...You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied" (Joel 2:25-26). Well, the way the Lord spoke to me about helping this individual get back those years is to sit down and read him a picture book! I'm learning to be obedient to God's direction, even if it seems downright crazy. His ways aren't mine, after all. 

Anyway, as I mulled over this idea for a few days and had pushed it aside, I came across the perfect book: 

That little child was finally read to! I don't know who enjoyed it more; the "kid" (who is actually an adult), or me! How wonderful to be used by God for His redemptive plan. Never underestimate the power of a book, or anything else, to be used by God to bring joy, healing, and restoration in any situation. I wonder how many more adults out there yearn to be read a good children's book, to be shown that they matter? How many children want to throw standardized testing and "Common Core" out the window and just hear a solid story with "voices," not to spit out the information, but just because? Do it...for yourself, and your children! 

Another bit of "literature"...
I have a copy of the Spartanburg (SC) High School student handbook from when my mom was in school. Believe it or not, this comes from a version revised in 1962: 

We have swung too far in a mere fifty-six years. I'm grateful for the freedom to model my own school after a code more like this than after those that have kicked God out. His way will never go out of style.

Finally....

I had a dream about my grandfather, "PeepEye," last night. I don't recall details, but what was important was his presence, and his gladness to see me. There was joy in the fact that we were going to spend time together. I'm glad that twenty-five years after his death, I'm still allowed vivid glimpses of him. The Lord is gracious to me in many, many examples such as this. 

Don't be afraid to "feel," even with tenderhearted tears and lament. Our enemy hates for God's people to feel love, empathy, and beauty. He is out to crush it. I strongly encourage crushed adults to get back what has been stolen, to take back those years the locusts have eaten. Fight! (1 Timothy 6:12).

2017 Book List

I wrote in my last post about the books my children and I have read together in 2017. I've been encouraged by other Charlotte Mason moms to keep several books "going": one easy, one medium, and one hard. When I attempt only one book at a time, it can become tedious; I'm not always in the mood for the same reading. It's like being before a banquet; it's better to have a variety of food than to try to eat the same thing for days on end.

It's important that we feed our minds. I have a book bag that I carry around, a canvas bag that was mine as a kid. In it are all the books I'm reading at the moment. I take it upstairs at night and bring it down in the morning. I take it in my car when I think I'll have to wait somewhere. My book bag has become a fun, welcome friend. All the books I have "going" are in one place, easy to access. When people ask what I'm reading, I tell them, "It's my professional development." Charlotte Mason called it "Mother Culture." At any rate, we all need mind food.

I publish my lists for several reasons. One is to demonstrate that any mother or person can read a lot in a year. I do not spend hours on end reading every day. However, minutes here and there each day add up to a long list of books read! Another reason is to share examples of the wide feast. I read many old, rare, unheard-of titles that I like to resurrect. It's important to keep these titles in circulation. A third reason is simply to encourage others and myself to read as much as we can.  

Here is my personal list of books completed in 2017:

Little Rosebud by Beatrice Harraden
This 1895 book was presented to me in 1984 by my grandmother, to her in 1934 by her grandmother, and to her grandmother in 1906 by her grandmother! One day I will follow suit and hopefully have a granddaughter to whom it will pass. Thirty-three years after receiving it, I finally read it. The story is a simple, charming one, about a little girl and a pet store owner pal.

Allison’s Girl by Theodore Acland Harper
This, too, belonged to my same grandmother as a teenager. It was boring in places; overall an okay, non-compelling story.

The Diseasing of America’s Children by John Rosemond and Bose Ravenel
Eye-opening and packed with research, Rosemond and Ravenel argue the legitimacy of many "syndromes" that have overtaken today's children, including ADD. 

The Mystery of the Vanishing Lady by Helen Wells
This is part of the Vicki Barr series about a young lady who flies planes and solves mysteries. I found it uninteresting except for the mysterious aspect, which dragged a little too long.

The Horse and Buggy Doctor by Arthur E. Hertzler
The fascinating point of view of a "modern" (1930's) doctor looking back at his early years as a young horse-and-buggy traveling doctor. The information stood alone as interesting, but the author's arrogance got too much in the way.

Openness Unhindered by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield

Written for Christians by a former lesbian atheist, an interesting look at how believers can love the homosexual population as image-bearers without condoning the lifestyle.

Parnassus On Wheels by Christopher Morley
Many thanks to Nancy Kelly for introducing me to this gem about a bookstore on wheels! A must-read for all book-lovers.

Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins
The story of a Charlotte Mason mom and her homeschooling journey that began in the early 1980's. Very encouraging to those of us who are doing it in these modern times!

The Brand New Parson by Sara Jenkins
Hardback 1940's book bought at the library for a quarter, this is the story of a new Methodist preacher who is unsure of himself as well as of God's truth. It's fun to see him grow more confident in his faith through challenges and uncertainty.

Breaking Free by Beth Moore
This is a 12-week study the ladies of our community group and I did together. The topic is identifying and healing from wounds and generational curses. Like any Moore study, the work was lengthy, but I enjoyed digging into the Word and facing this challenging subject with ladies close to me. 

Laurel’s Choices by Exie Wilde Henson
Based on real experiences of her parents, Henson (our cousin) describes life in a primitive Pisgah Forest, NC logging camp in the 1930's. 

Samuel Skinker and His Descendants by Thomas Keith Skinker
This is a family treasure for descendants of the Skinker family. It's jammed with personal accounts of ancestors: descriptions of their lives, wills, letters, diary entries, and family trees. I'm amazed at the tremendous amount of work that Skinker did over twenty years to complete this book in 1923. It's a personal book divided into chapters, rather than pages of impersonal pedigrees.

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
The heartbreaking story of McCourt's childhood as the son of a lazy Irishman and his neglectful, depressed wife. As hard as some parts were to read, I loved McCourt's style. His transparency gives insight into the wounds that many contend with into adulthood.

A Turtle on a Fencepost by Allan C. Emery, Jr. 
I read this book over the course of about a year in bits and pieces. Emery shares delightful, rich tales about his life and growth as a Christian.

How to Keep Well by Albert Blaisdell, M.D.
An 1890's book designed as an instruction manual for young people. Blaisdell gives vivid descriptions of organs and systems, as well as sometimes funny advice about staying healthy.

Mary on Horseback by Rosemary Wells

A short work that reminds me of Hertzler's Horse and Buggy Doctor, about a female nurse and her rounds on horseback. A good story also for children that can be read in one sitting.

Six Ways to Keep the “Little” in Your Girl by Dannah Gresh 
Gresh addresses the fact that if we don't speak to our daughters about their bodies, the culture will do it for us. She supplies examples of scenarios and questions, giving parents confidence to tackle tough topics.

William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe by Howard Peckham
Simple book for children about the childhood of President William H. Harrison. Good for history and narration, although I read it to myself.

A Chicken’s Guide to Talking Turkey With Your Kids About Sex by Dr. Kevin Leman & Kathy Flores Bell
The title explains it thoroughly! This was an easy read that will give parents confidence and relief. As with Gresh's book, the authors lay out the importance (from a Christian point of view) of having these challenging discussions, beginning in the pre-teen years.

Miracles by Eric Metaxis 

Not my favorite Metaxis book, but an okay read. Overall an interesting account of various miracles in the lives of ordinary people, once I made it through the scientific talk in the beginning. I prefer his biographies, and enjoy his radio podcast.

A Book of Curious Advice: Most Unusual Manners, Morals, Medicine From Days of Yore Edited by Ruth Pepper Summers
Worth picking up for the humorous and sometimes ghastly old home remedies! 

Candy Stripers by Lee Wyndham
This was a 1950's paperback I saw on Pinterest, and the cute, vintage cover compelled me to buy it on Amazon. It's a typical cheesy teenage story mixed with romance about a girl facing a boring summer, so she volunteers as a candy striper at the local hospital. It's an easy, mindless read for those nights when you want to pick up a book but aren't up to much.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Ah...the book that's referenced in culture, but that I hadn't read until now. The rich vocabulary and prose made up for the fact that I already knew what was going to happen. It's a fairly easy read, and not long.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer 
This book took me an entire year to read. Bonhoeffer is worth the journey, but cannot be hurried. Reading his works is like eating chocolate mousse; you savor one small bit and have to go back to it later. Keep it handy and take in a little a few times a week.

Mentoring: Confidence in Finding a Mentor and Becoming One by Bobb Biehl 
I usually can't stand books like this, and began it half-heartedly as a recommendation from a pastor at church. This is one time I was wrong! Biehl's likable style kept me interested in what it means to be a mentor, what to look for in one, and what it doesn't entail. It can be read in a few sittings, and is valuable for everyone.

The Old Peabody Pew by Kate Douglas Wiggin
This is a beautiful book from 1906 that I bought at a library sale. It's a light, simple tale about several generations of church members and a long-lost love. Each page of this Christmas tale is adorned with holly and berries around the text, enhancing its attractiveness. 


He’s Gonna Toot and I’m Gonna Scoot by Barbara Johnson

Barbara Johnson is a mentor I'll never meet till heaven, but her outlook on life has been medicine to me over the years. Her books are easy to recognize, and the stories often repeat, but I love her jokes, quotes, and anecdotes. Barbara took the pain from many life tragedies and turned it into good for uplifting others. Keep her books handy for a daily dose of humor and God's love.

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

I attempted to read this book years ago in an immature stage of life when I was unable to appreciate it. How glad I am to revisit Mitford with new eyes! Pastor Tim, Cynthia, and the gang become like treasured friends. The simplicity of their small-town lives isn't without trials. When I finish the series, I want to read it again and again!

The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke
A short, small old book I also got at the library sale, one that can be read in a day or two. Okay but not compelling, it's the tale of a young man and his strained relationship with his father. The physical beauty of the book remains more impressive to me than the story.

Bo’s Cafe by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol
Recommended by a mentor and friend, this is a must-read for anyone wanting to live and grow in community with fellow Christians. It's a fictional description of what "doing life" looks like with messy, broken people.

Why Johnny Can’t Read by Rudolf Flesch 
I wrote a blog post about this book, the impressive research done by Flesh regarding teaching reading with sight (whole) words versus a phonetic approach. His argument against the whole word method is compelling.

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks
Tim Keller mentioned this in a sermon. A rich treasure trove to make us aware of the devil's lies and how to combat them, this book was written in the 1600's and is still every bit relevant today. It took several months to get through because of its weighty nature, but what a weapon! 

Surprised By Joy by C.S. Lewis
This is the autobiography of Lewis, mainly describing his upbringing and conversion to Christianity. True to Lewis, there are many quotes to ponder, sentences to re-read for their richness, and a lot of explanation of his love for fantasy and science fiction. I enjoyed getting to know "Jack" the person, and found that I surprisingly have a lot in common with him.

Fraulein Schmidt and Mr. Anstruther by Elizabeth von Armin
Another library sale book written in 1906, this is written as a series of letters from Rosemarie Schmidt to Roger Anstruther. I never knew what turns her writing or their relationship would take. At times it was hilarious and easy to read, and other parts are hard to get through. Fraulein tends to enjoy finding vent with her pen! I liked it for all the German vocabulary, which I had fun looking up on my German app. 

A Light in the Window by Jan Karon 
The second book of the Mitford series, and as charming and fun as the first. These books have me wanting to live in Mitford and be a part of their crew!

How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer

This famous work eerily foreshadows life today in our culture. I think of this book as "Culture 101," with "Professor" Schaeffer as my guide into the nuts and bolts of life from Ancient Rome to the 1970's, when it was written. It's a survey of famous names, events, and ideas, just enough information to leave me wanting to look up more about everything. I took about six months with this book, because the information is so vast and rich, I often had to stop after each sentence and chew on the idea. I imagine how wonderful it would be to stop the author and ask countless questions, soaking in his own wisdom about the topics. I'd call it a textbook that's not a textbook!

Selections From:
The Bible
Essential every day, I desire it like food or air. John Piper says, "I love the Bible. It's not a superficial book; it's a deeply profound book." How else will we grow in Christ, and understand God and his love for us more deeply? I prefer NKJV in the morning, KJV at night, ESV at church, NIV audio on my Bible app, and MSG when I'm curious about Peterson's translation!

Charlotte Mason's series
I confess, although I follow the methods of Charlotte, her essays are not easy. However, I must stay in them for professional and personal development. There is much to learn from her wisdom, although it sometimes feels that her tough love borders on self-righteousness. What I do appreciate is her legacy of love for God and all children, and her challenges to raise the bar. Her methods work for everyone, and are revolutionary to education.

The Optimist's Good Morning and The Cloud of Witness
I make reference to these works throughout my blog, especially The Cloud, which was Charlotte Mason's gift to graduating students. They are easy to pick up and read daily, or to pick back up after a hiatus. Both are books with poems, prayers, verses, etc. set aside for each day. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here's to a 2018 be full of riveting reading!