Amazing Books

I have to rant and rave about a few of the books I have recently read. The first one is amazing, fantastic, incredible--a must read for any parent of a son or daughter. It is Preparing Sons for Single Income Families. Even if your son is a newborn, it is not too early to read this book. I am ranking it up there as one of my absolute favorite parenting books. Did I happen to mention that I love this book!
The next book that has revolutionized our house is Managers of Their Homes by Steve and Teri Maxwell, who are also the authors of Preparing Sons for Single Income Families. If you feel unorganized and overwhelmed, then this is the book for you. Great advice and tips on how to run a house full of children, home school, and teach kids responsibility, while spending one on one time with each child. Whew! I'm out of breath just thinking about it.
I had to order a couple more books from their website after reading these little gems. These are the kind of books that make you feel revived and give you a sense that you can accomplish more than you thought.
I have also read Desiring God by John Piper. This book gave me chills, it was so good, but deep, very deep. I need to read it again to get all the nuggets I missed the first time through. I think I could read this book 4 or 5 times and still find things that I missed the times before.
I love to be stimulated to think about my relationship with God on a higher level. Sometimes, I feel like an child in my relationship with Christ, just learning addition and subtraction. Well, this book teaches Advanced Calculus.
The last book that I want to share is The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink. This book is Advanced Calculus. I had to stop and think about every paragraph. It will bring you to your knees every day with realization of the Mighty, Holy, Sovereign God we serve.

Curriculum update

Unforgettable Languages--Now that we are actually done with the first of 4 parts, I have to say that my kids have retained a lot of it and the most important part is that it was enjoyable to learn this curriculum, so I am giving it a thumbs up. While we were at an amusement park, the kids heard a mom tell her son in Spanish to go to the bathroom over there. They were so excited that they could understand what she had said, and I was excited that if we ever go to Mexico, we will know how to find restrooms--very important.

Editor In Chief--I bought this for next year, but the kids are using it as a computer game right now without even realizing it is educational. That alone makes it one of my favorites. Of course, we are not doing any writing over the summer, so I cannot yet testify to the effect it will have on their writing assignments. But, I am excited that they think it is a "fun game."

RAIN

It has been a dry month of June around here with an occasional promise of rain, only to give us a sprinkle or two. You know the kind where you ask the person with you if they feel a raindrop, too.
But, all we needed were plans on the calendar for a holiday fireworks display and the rain will come pouring down. Oh well, it really is beautiful to see the rainfall and I love the smell of rain in the air.
Thank you, Lord for the much needed rain.

June update

Whew! These past two weeks have flown by and I have been too pooped out to post, so here is an update on what all we have been doing.
Below are pictures of the most beautiful babies you have ever laid eyes on--scrumptuous! We were invited to a birthday party for a sweet 3 year old.


Don't you love how much concentration it requires when you are three to hold that thumb down and hold up those three fingers? That effort is worth a cupcake in my book.
We had a daughter/son date, while my oldest had a daughter/father date with Daddy. We went to Chucke Cheese and spent too much money on bad pizza, but it warranted a smile because it is Chucke Cheese.

I love french braids and I was finally able to convince Sabree to let me braid her hair, as long as I did "one big braid to the side."

Mr. B in full combat mode. He would climb right inside this game if he could. He is an army guy at heart.

Well, maybe he is a ball player at heart.
Or an equestrian at heart?
No, it turns out, he is Mr. Magoo at heart.


These are my favorite moments. My oldest reading to the two younger, while Sabree knits and Briley--well, he is probably looking for the Magoo glasses.

She is getting very fast. This turned into a scarf for me later that day, so I only want to hear praise when I come sporting my new scarf in the middle of summer.
My heart overflows--she is reading without me telling her--just because--just for fun--YEA!



Better late than never, these are pictures from Father's Day. First the home made gifts--Downey containers full of promises to give massages, do extra chores, and behave well. Cherished memories

A scavenger hunt for Daddy to find his "big" gift.
He is a good hunter and finds his gift with expert skills. I think he likes it, don't you? Tim the tool man grunt--ARRHARRHARR




The drooling cowboy fully clothed. Couldn't you just eat him up?

This precious baby is a cancer survivor (thank you, God). She is in training to be a mommy one day. God has big plans for her.

This is how you make smores when a big black cloud looms overhead and threatens your bonfire.
Do I smell hair burning? No, that is just burnt marshmallow--that's the best part.


There are so many more pictures, but I'm getting a little bit tired and I am afraid if I blog anymore, I might start to sound a bit loony. Okay, I have always sounded loony.