Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Inheritance of Beauty

I just completed my second book for review from Book Sneeze.  The title of this book is The Inheritance of Beauty and it is written by Nicole Seitz.  The setting of this book is primarily a nursing home in the southern United States.  The story pulsates back and forth between the present and the main character's past.  George and Maggie Jacobs are an elderly couple, blessed to still be together, but caught in the throughs of failing health and lost independence.  And yet, their lives are are kept aglow by not only memories of a childhood shared, but also an abiding love for each other.  Maggie, though bound by her lack of speech and her limited ability to express herself, sees and feels all that is around her.  George is free to speak and express himself.  Yet, they both bear the burden of trusting each other both through the physical changes they are experiencing and toward the resolution of unanswered questions from their past.

Not only did Seitz draw from her own memories in the development of this story, but also, as an artist, created to cover art.  I LOVE these things about any book and the author did not disappoint!  Her characters are thoughfully created and yet transparent.  The story line is tight and well composed.  You are quickly drawn into the story and find it hard to stop reading until all is resolved in the end.

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. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

a glimpse at our homeschool



We usually begin our school days with Bible Study Time.   I. love. this. time.   To me it is just one of those times that makes homeschooling so precious - just me and my kids, the word of God - good things, eternal things.  Each child has a folder that has both copy paper and lined notebooking pages.  We are working through the major Bible stories chronologically.  Right now I am reading straight from the Bible.  In the past, because of the age range of my children, I have used Bible story books.  Now, they just seem ready for straight-from-the-Bible-reading .  I read a passage from the Word and have them draw a picture or write a dictated sentence about what we are reading.  If the picture/writing is more involved, then the next day, I reveiw our past readings with them while they finish up their page.  On the occasions, when I choose for them not to do a picture for a particular reading, I have them go back to a previous picture and add color or detail to it.  Afterwards we sing one of the songs we've learned from hymn study.
Then I pray with them and our day rolls forward. 

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER

The author of one of my very favorite blogs has suffered a massive stroke.  Her name is Joanne Heim and she writes at thesimplewife.typepad.com  She is a very vibrant person, whose faith resonates with passion and authenticity.  Please pray for her, her husband Toben, daughter Audrey and daughter Emma (who was the one who first found her after her stroke).