Random Stuff

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I keep waiting for a break in the turbulence to get caught up on “stuff,” and it doesn’t seem to be coming.  So here is a quick post on stuff…

First, a few traffic directions for a couple of posts I wrote a looong time ago but didn’t tell you about yet.  Since summer isn’t quite over, you may still be looking for celebration ideas?

• Preschool:  Celebrations over at The Homeschool Village
• Celebrate Summer over at Heart of the Matter Online

We had fun celebrating bizarre holidays at the beginning of June, and now we’re going to be celebrating the ABCs of summer in August, so stay tuned…

Also, a quick announcement that we are on the TOS Homeschool Crew this year.  Lots of homeschooling fun (and reviews) ahead – we’re already playing with our first product.  It includes lots of little baby piggies, so I think it’s a bit of a success with the dramatic play princess, aka piggy sitter Esmé.

Third, I thought we’d play along with Molding Minds Homeschool today and meet a few new friends!  Join in the fun and discover a few new blogging friends of your own…

Did I mention I’m working a lot?  Fun stuff…  Where else would I get to cashier at a thrift store, use pliers to battle with a rest area vending machine, present financials to a board of directors, clean the conference room sink, deal with database optimization issues, duel with the county assessor’s office, set up facebook contests, pick up litter, and figure out stock values – all in one week?

So glad for weekends – which include some big homeschool days in our house…

Review: Perfect You

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Holly Skelton

and the book:

Perfect You

Tate Publishing (May 10, 2011)

***Special thanks to Holly Skelton for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Holly Skelton has had a colorful and diverse work history, from engineering to wedding planning, all in an effort to explore her different talents and personality traits. After having children, she was inspired to write a tale explaining to kids how unique and special they are, blessed with their own talents and gifts. Holly is passionate about spreading her message to all children that they are made for a purpose! She lives in Plymouth Michigan with her husband Bryndon and three young daughters and feels she has finally found God’s calling for her as an author.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Perfect You is a story for parents to share with their children to encourage them to discover their talents so that they can live a life of purpose and happiness. In this letter from God, children will discover that He has blessed them with gifts and talents that make them totally unique and able to serve the world in a very special way. Could the gift of bravery make you a police officer or firefighter, or could your compassion help you to be a great doctor or teacher? The possibilities are endless!

Product Details:

List Price: $8.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Perfect Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing (May 10, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1617399183
ISBN-13: 978-1617399183

AND NOW...THE FIRST THREE PAGES (Click on images to view larger picture):

Esmé's Perspective:

The book is about a child.  Maybe it is about me.  Everybody has special gifts.  Jesus gives us all the gifts we need.  We use them for other people.  And sometimes we use them for ourselves.

I can use my gifts by giving away a toy.  I can bless people by dancing and singing. Doing a BEAUTIFUL dance for them.  When I grow up, I will be a ballet dancer AND a doctor.

I like this book.  I like the pictures.  My favorite part is the dancing part.

What Mom Thinks:

A lovely letter from a Heavenly Father – a message I certainly want to pass on to my own daughter.  Not only does it emphasize how special and perfect God created each child, it goes on to encourage the child to use his gifts to serve others and make a difference.

The biggest attraction of this little book for Esmé was the illustrations – particularly of ballet shoes/ballerinas.  I love how the author and illustrator have portrayed gifts of ALL kinds – that would appeal to various personality types and genders.

As written, the book was a little above 4yo Esmé’s comprehension, but it did spark a great discussion as we talked about what it meant.

A nice inclusion in this book is the coupon code for a free audio download of the text.  This is definitely something I’d be happy to play for my daughter at bedtime, etc.

Mugabe and the White African

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One family’s stand for Justice – catch the story on PBS 7/26!

I'll be blogging about the book Mugabe and the White African later this month, but I wanted to let you know that Point of View will air the documentary Mugabe and the White African on Tuesday, July 26th.

The film tells the story of Mike Campbell and his family of three generations of Zimbabwean farmers as they attempt to keep their farm under Mugabe's "land reform." Watch the trailer for the documentary below and visit the PBS Point of View website for your local listing. http://www.pbs.org/pov/tvschedule/

The book Mugabe and the White African (Lion Books, distributed by Kregel Publications, July 15, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-7459-5546-9, $14.95) written by Mike Campbell's son-in-law Ben Freeth provides more detail regarding the family's struggles and court battles.The book chronicles the deeply moving and life-threatening struggle of a Christian family from Zimbabwe to protect their legally owned farmland, to protect the lives and livelihoods of all those working on the farm, and to live to see justice.

Freeth lays bare a beautiful but lawless land fouled by fear. A 'Clockwork Orange' state where racism, greed, and violence are ultimately humbled by almost unimaginable courage. Richly described, bravely chronicled, and utterly compelling. 

-Mike Thomson, Radio Foreign Affairs Correspondent, BBC

Ben Freeth has an extraordinary story to tell. Like that of many white farmers, his family's land was "reclaimed" for redistribution by Mugabe's government. But Ben's family fought back. Appealing to international law, they instigated a suit against Mugabe's government in the SADC, the Southern African equivalent of NATO. The case was deferred time and again while Mugabe's men pulled strings. But after Freeth and his parents-in-law were abducted and beaten within inches of death in 2008, the SADC deemed any further delay to be an obstruction of justice. The case was heard, and was successful on all counts.

But the story doesn't end there. In 2009 the family farm was burned to the ground. The fight for justice in Zimbabwe is far from over--this book is for anyone who wants to see into the heart of one of today's hardest places and how human dignity flourishes even in the most adverse circumstances.

Read an Excerpt (PDF)

Read the Press Release

Review: God Gave Us You

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

 

Lisa Tawn Bergren

and the book:

God Gave Us You (Board Book)

WaterBrook Press; 1st edition (September 19, 2000

***Special thanks to Laura Tucker, WaterBrook Multnomah Publicity, for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling author of eight novels, three novellas, and two gift books, with more than a half-million books in print. God Gave Us You is her first children’s book. As an editor during the week and a writer on weekends, she makes her very-messy-but-cozy home in Colorado with her husband, Tim, and their daughters, Olivia and Emma.

Visit the author's website.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:

Laura J. Bryant attended the Maryland Institute of Art, where she received a strong foundation in drawing, painting, and print-making. Illustrating children’s books has provided her with both a rewarding and creative career. Laura’s clients have included Simon & Schuster, McGraw Hill, and Stech-Vaughn publishers, among others. She currently lives among the tidal rivers on the eastern shore of Maryland with her loving husband and curiously cantankerous cat!

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Filled with playful, winsome illustrations by an artist who specializes in polar bear images, this four-color, read-to-me picture book will build children’s self-esteem through the tale of a mama bear who reassuringly explains where her cub came from and affirms Mama and Papa’s great love for her.



Product Details:

List Price: $10.99
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1st edition (September 19, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1578563232
ASIN: B002PJ4LHM

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

To Liv, Emma, and Jack—
Words cannot express how glad
we are that God gave us you.
—L.T.B.



To Ron and Shirley—
Who have an endless supply of love and generosity.
—L.J.B.

“Good night, sweet child,” Mama said as she tucked Little Cub in.

But Little Cub wasn’t quite ready to go to sleep.

“Mama, where did I come from?” she asked.



“From God,” her mother answered. “Your papa and I were alone, and we wanted
a baby.”

“And you got me?” Little Cub asked, her voice muffled by the covers.

“Yes, my special child. God gave us you.”

Esmé's Point of View:

The book is about loving and bears.  Mama Bear tells Little Cub that she came from God.  I am like Little Cub because God gave me to my Mom and Dad.  And I know God gave me my Mom, too.  And my Dad.

I like the book.  I like Little Cub because she is so cute.  My favorite part is where the bears were rushing to the hospital before Little Cub is born.

What Mom Thinks:

A very sweet book for cuddle-times that emphasizes how each child is a special gift, straight from God.  This board book version is durable for little tiny ones, but the message is ageless.

I sometimes wonder if it’s confusing to give bears human attributes (or depict a human story using bear characters), but I know my daughter has always adored animals “that can really talk” – so this makes the book extremely appealing to her.

Overall, sweet illustrations and a beautiful message make this book a winner.

Negotiator: Scene 1

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4yo Esmé is happily playing with a super sharp pencil in the back seat of the car.  Mom is driving.

Mom:  Put the pencil down, please.

Esmé:  Why?

Mom:  Think about what would happen if I had to stop the car suddenly, like if a deer jumped in front of us.  What would the pencil do?  It might stab you in the arm…

Esmé:  …or it might poke me in the eye.  And I would be blind.  But I wouldn’t be blind forever.  When Jesus takes me to heaven, He could heal me, just like He healed the man born blind!  That would be SO COOL!

Mom:  Grrrrr…

Shifting gears to her “standing on Daddy’s hand” tricks:

Pinterest…

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Pinterest is a neat-looking way to track and organize those articles and posts we don’t want to lose track of.  For some, it’s a new form of art – there are some GORGEOUS collections out there - and if that’s what you’re looking for, you probably won’t find it on our page.
But if you are interested in a random assortment of fun and educational ideas for your littles, be sure to stop by and check us out.  Here’s where we are at:

http://pinterest.com/moziesme/

See ya!

Cheesy Tea

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Mismatched plastic table and chairs…

Overgrown weedy lawn…

Scorched refrigerator biscuits and freezer-burned fruit chiller pops…

Holey roses filled with earwigs…

Thrown together hastily between ringing phones and loads of laundry and bank reconciliations…

…nothing like I had planned in my mind.  Nothing like those elaborate photos and blog posts that inspire me to greatness in my mind.
Cheesy?  Tacky?  Mediocre at best?

I’m busy, and tired, and I’ve got no energy to do more.

Maybe it is enough for this moment…

…this moment that doesn’t slip through my fingers like grains of sand but rather shoots past me faster than a speeding bullet.

Enough?

Chapter Books

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I picked up a stack of Junie B. Jones books (by Barbara Park) at a thrift store the other day, and Esmé has been devouring them (as read-alouds, of course – she would never push herself to read them on her own…)

I have mixed feelings about them:

Pros:

• Esmé loves them.  They are right at her level, with things she is interested in.
• They are fun to read, even for me.
• We can read just a chapter when short on time; but they are also short enough to read through in one sitting.
• It gives me insight into some of the seemingly-bizarre ways Esmé acts sometimes; a peek into her brain of sorts.  Rather educational for me.

Cons: 

• I sometimes worry that Esmé will pick up on some of the rude/thoughtless things Miss Junie B. says/does and try them out for herself.  Granted, Junie B. does reap consequences for them.  Do I want a true-to-life heroine like Junie B., or one with (perhaps unachievable) high standards?  Not sure if this is a pro or con.
• The grammar/vocabulary!  Written at a 5-6yo level, it’s fun to read, but Esmé has a better vocab than that.  I hate reinforcing bad grammar – I kind of prefer the classics where the babes speak better than I do!

Anyway, we are enjoying the book candy.  Here are a few other chapter book series we’ve enjoyed:

• Tumtum and Nutmeg (by Emily Bearn)
• Flat Stanley (by Jeff Brown)
• Raggedy Ann and Andy (by Johnny Gruelle)
• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (by Betty MacDonald)
• In Grandma’s Attic (by Arleta Richardson)

And I was wondering – are there any other chapter book series you might recommend for a kindergarten-aged kiddo?

Happy Independence Day!

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I’ve been leisurely, albeit guiltily, perusing other 4th posts today and wishing I could somehow come up with something inspiring, something profound – to blog about.

It’s just not in me these days, though.  I struggle to make it through the day, trying to concentrate on just the next step – just one more movement rather than collapse.  Energy is nowhere to be found, though I’ve looked everywhere in the fog.  Life keeps spinning faster and faster, and I’m not sure how to hang on.

I can’t pinpoint exactly what the issue is.  I just know I’m tired.

Anyway – babysteps here.  I may not have anything profound to say, but I miss blogging, so I’m making a comeback effort.  You may have to deal with photo posts for a while until I come up with words…

Did anyone else’s red-white-blue art projects turn into a murky grape-juice-type affair?


I finally happened upon my red yarn, and as we are still going through our Raggedy Ann and Andy chapter books, they made their appearance yesterday.  Perhaps a little more patriotic-looking than the grape juice?  Esmé decided Ann needed a button chin and an owie on her face, if you were wondering…


Alrighty – here’s an appropriate photo for the holiday.  Any guesses where we’ve been since I blogged last?  I always seem to end up with tons of these photos thanks to the nice long border wait… :)  As you can see, we had an absolutely gorgeous drive that day.


I AM blessed.  We ARE blessed.  A very happy Independence celebration to you all!