Books from November 2020

I read five books in November 2020.

I believe stories provide the fertile soul in which truth, goodness, and beauty can take root in our hearts and eventually grow into wisdom and virtue.

Even when I read a book for pure enjoyment, I'm sure I always end up learning something new.

I rated The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane five stars. My review stated: Such a sweet story but sad at times too.

Here's the synopsis:  Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a China rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely.

And then, one day, he was lost.

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hoboes' camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

genres: fantasy, fiction, childrens, adventure

I rated Where They Found Her five stars but did not write a review.

Synopsis:

At the end of a long winter, in bucolic Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of an infant is discovered in the woods near the town’s prestigious university campus. No one knows who the baby is, or how her body ended up out there. But there is no shortage of opinions.

When freelance journalist, and recent Ridgedale transplant, Molly Anderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the story for the Ridegdale Reader, it’s a risk, given the severe depression that followed the loss of her own baby. But the bigger threat comes when Molly unearths some of Ridgedale’s darkest secrets, including a string of unreported sexual assaults that goes back twenty years.

Meanwhile, Sandy, a high school dropout, searches for her volatile and now missing mother, and PTA president Barbara struggles to help her young son, who’s suddenly having disturbing outbursts.

Told from the perspectives of Molly, Barbara, and Sandy, Kimberly McCreight’s taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth about the baby’s death revealing that these three women have far more in common than they realized. And that their lives are more intertwined with what happened to the baby than they ever could have imagined.

genres: mystery thriller, suspense, crime

I rated Little Cat's Luck five stars, no review.

Synopsis: 

When an indoor calico cat named Patches spots a golden autumn leaf fluttering past her window, she can't help but venture outside to chase it. But soon, Patches feels something tugging at her, telling her to find a special place--one she won't know until she sees it. Why must she go on this search? She doesn't know yet.

Along the way, Patches finds herself in dire circumstances, but with the help of the other neighborhood animals, she faces off against the scariest dog in town and continues on her journey to her special place.

Beautifully told in verse and accompanied by adorable illustrations by Jennifer A. Bell, this heartwarming novel from Newbery Honor winner, Marion Dane Bauer, is a timeless, touching, and fulfilling story about finding your way home.

genres: poetry, childrens, cats, fiction, fantasy

I rated There Will Come A Time five stars. My review: I enjoyed this book very much. It made me laugh a few times and made me cry too.

Synopsis:

Mark knows grief. Ever since the accident that killed his twin sister, Grace, the only time he feels at peace is when he visits the bridge on which she died. Comfort is fleeting, but it’s almost within reach when he’s standing on the wrong side of the suicide bars. Almost.

Grace’s best friend, Hanna, says she understands what he’s going through. But she doesn’t. She can’t. It’s not just the enormity of his loss. As her twin, Mark should have known Grace as well as he knows himself. Yet when he reads her journal, it’s as if he didn’t know her at all.

As a way to remember Grace, Hanna convinces Mark to complete Grace’s bucket list from her journal. Mark’s sadness, anger, and his growing feelings for Hannah threaten to overwhelm him. But Mark can’t back out. He made a promise to honor Grace—and it’s his one chance to set things right.

genres: young adult, realistic fiction, romance, grief, death, mental health, friendship

I rated Different by Design five stars. No review.

Synopsis: 

Almost without notice, our homes and churches have become the newest laboratory for sex-role experimentation. Lured by the world's acceptance and a national obsession with fairness, we've replaced the once-clear biblical boundaries between men and women with a confusing, frighteningly secular hybrid. The harmony and effectiveness we were promised never came--only a treacherous rift that is ruining marriages, dividing families, and splitting churches top to bottom.

Different by Design offers hope for bridging that gap and finding fulfillment and success in your family and church. In his thorough, no-nonsense style, John MacArthur sets aside prevailing cultural standards and helps you understand and apply the biblical principles for men's and women's roles. Discover the beauty, balance, and benefits of God's unique role for you in this practical, well-researched tool--one you'll turn to again and again!

Dr. John MacArthur, Jr. is Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and President of The Master's College and Seminary. Known for his dynamic expository preaching, John is heard daily on the "Grace to You" syndicated radio broadcast and has a cassette ministry that has distributed more than eight million tapes. His many books include The MacArthur New Testament Commentary series, Our Sufficiency in Christ , Ashamed of the Gospel , How to Meet the Enemy , and Anxiety Attacked .

The MacArthur Study Series is designed to help Christians better understand and apply the Bible by better understanding some of its key truths and doctrines.

genres: marriage, theology, Christian living, family

New books (to me) that I picked up in November 2020.

Books are my friends, my companions. They make me laugh and cry and find meaning in life. -Christopher Paolini

I'm always thankful for my eyesight. To be able to see the wonderful world that God created, my loved ones faces, for the independence that sight gives me, and to be able to have such a wonderful hobby as reading.

Thank You, God, for all that is good, and dear, and beautiful.

-Anne Frank

Books Read in October

Books I read in October 2020 

Hellen L Taylor took John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and simplified the vocabulary and concepts for young readers, while keeping the story line intact. The result was a classic in itself.

It's both a simple adventure story and a profound allegory of the Christian journey through life, a delightful read with a message kids ages 6 to 12 can understand and remember. A new look and fresh illustrations for today's children enlivens the journey to the Celestial city.

I have yet to read the original version of Pilgrim's Progress whoever, both Riley and I enjoyed this story so much. When I finished reading it Riley said he didn't want the story to be over. That says it all.

According to my Goodreads rating I gave this book five stars and yet I don't remember anything about it. How awful is that?! When this happens, I'm so tempted to re-read the book but then I look at all my books on my TBR list and I realize I do not have time to waste on a book I have already read even if I don't remember what it was about. But here's the blurb:

In this neighborhood, danger lies close to home. A domestic thriller packed full of secrets, and a twisty story that never stops.

He looks at her, concerned. "How do you feel?" She wants to say, terrified. Instead, she says, with a faint smile, "Glad to be home."

Karen and Tom Krupp are happy - they've got a lovely home in upstate New York, they're practically newlyweds, and they have no kids to interrupt their comfortable life together. But one day, Tom returns home to find Karen has vanished - her car's gone and it seems she left in a rush. She even left her purse - complete with phone and ID - behind.

There's a knock on the door - the police are there to take Tom to the hospital where his wife has been admitted. She had a car accident, and lost control as she sped through the worst part of town.

The accident has left Karen with a concussion and a few scrapes. Still, she's mostly okay - except that she can't remember what she was doing or where she was when she crashed. The cops think her memory loss is highly convenient, and they suspect she was up to no good.

Karen returns home with Tom, determined to heal and move one with her life. Then she realizes something's been moved. Something's not quite right. Someone's been in her house. And the police won't stop asking questions.

Because in this house, everyone's a stranger. Everyone has something they'd rather keep hidden. Something they might even kill to keep quiet.

Another five star review that I gave on Goodreads. I enjoyed this one. It's a cozy thriller.

Spunky librarian Karen Nash is back in London and planning to open a bookstore with her beau, Caldwell Perkins, who owns a B & B. Unexpectedly, Sally, Caldwell's tall, gorgeous, and blonde ex-girlfriend shows up - possibly to reclaim the B & B - and just maybe Caldwell, too. Sally's current boyfriend, Alfredo, joins her, and they take a room.

That night, Karen is awakened by a horrible crash. Caldwell isn't in bed with her. She rushes out to the hall to find him standing in the doorway of the inn's library with a look of horror on his face. Inside the room all Karen can see is a woman's hand sticking out from under a massive pile of pages and wood. While Sally's death appears an accident, Karen finds it hard to believe. How did the heavy oak bookshelf topple over? Karen fears Sally has been murdered. The detective on the case come to the same conclusion and decides Caldwell is the most likely suspect.

In order to save her boyfriend, Karen must figure out what Sally was looking for in the library and what Caldwell was doing up in the middle of the night. A story of intrigue and revenge. Death Overdue is a page-turning mystery featuring a loveable heroine who loves books almost as much as she loves her man. 

Another great children's book. Five stars!

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sister, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena's affection - he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?

Five Stars

At any Cost by Mike & Hayley Jones

When Mike and Hayley set out to adopt a child from Sierra Leone, Africa, never in their wildest imaginations did they dream this venture would lead to the "Jones Dozen." This dramatically moving story will amaze and insire any reader. Their stunning observation: "It was the least we could do!"

Five Stars

American History in Black & White by David Barton

Setting the Record Straight is a unique view of the religious and moral heritage of black Americans, with an emphasis on the untold yet significant stories from our rich political history. The material presented is ground-breaking and revolutionary, leaving viewers amazed and inspired. 

I remember reading this book in 2020 and thinking that if every American read the truths in this book that they will see how Republicans have been the party of right since its inception. People will discover that it was the Democrats who were behind white supremacy, and the KKK. 

If the black population truly knew the true history of their past and the origins of the Democratic party they wouldn't continue to vote Democrat.

This book should be in every classroom.

Five stars

Another Quest for Celeste by Henry Cole

Celebrated author and illustrator Henry Cole uses stunningly detailed black-and-white artwork to illuminate a tale of friendship between an adventurous mouse and a boy who would become one of America's greatest presidents.

In this sequel to A Nest for Celeste, Celeste is hundreds of miles from home following an unexpected journey aboard a Mississippi steamboat. After mishaps and disasters, she finds herself on the frontier in southern Indiana. It's 1822, and Celeste meets a tall, lanky boy wielding a young Abraham Lincoln. The journey reveals the harsh realities of frontier life for the Lincoln family. But with the help of Celeste's new woodland animal friends and some creativity, she may just prove that even the littlest creatures can make a big difference. And it's in losing her way that Celeste finds herself in a place she never expected - home, finally.

I surprised myself for having read seven books in one month. That's pretty neat. 

I am so thankful to God for the gift of sight and smell. Sight - to be able to read and see beauty and smell - to be able to put an old book up to my nose and smell its wonderful old musty scent.

Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper

to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.

- Joseph Addison-

Broad-Leaved Beauties

October 24, 2020

What a splendid day to venture out. 

We had no specific plans other than spend the day outside enjoying the beautiful and captivating season. Notice the thickness of the clouds. It reminds me of buttercream on cake. 

The sky above proclaims His handiwork.

Weather like this has become part of the pattern of my life. 

For me, moody cloudy weather is quite majestic. Nature's grayscale beauty gives me such a thrill of almost youthful enjoyment. I can be in the presence of the ocean or the Puget Sound and be idle and enjoy myself for quite a while.

I remember going to U-Village to get ice cream at Hello Robin. On our drive there the fall foliage was bursting with such vibrant colors.

Driving back across the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and headed to Issaquah. We take the backway home sometimes especially during this time of the year because I know there's a lot of deciduous trees in this area to behold. 

Only the Lord can create such glory that it stops your breath. 

We drove down a street where the leaves were burning in scarlet and gold. It is breathtaking to see such bright colored leaves. 

One way to find joy is to look intently for moments where God reveals Himself. I am so very thankful He created such gorgeous trees. He knew nature would be therapeutic for humanity.

The details of our days do make a difference in our lives. I definitely notice it in mine when I'm intentional about living in the moment. I acknowledge the beauty around me. I can't help but to talk about it and it fills me with so much joy.

One of the ways I like to re-energize, recoup, and refresh is to spend time outside, preferably surrounded by nature. I love trees. I love the way wet earth smells. I love the way decomposing leaves smell on a hot day (smells like sweet strawberries). I love to breathe the fresh cool air. I love cloudy cold windy days. Once I get my fill of nature for the day I am at peace. I feel rested and refreshed.

We live better if we're surrounded by beautiful things. 

New Books and Read Two

June 2020 Book Haul

When the pandemic started a lot of stores closed. But as soon as mandates were put in place they opened back up. I drove by the nearest Goodwill and saw cars in the parking lot. It had finally opened since the pandemic began a month before.

Although a short post I wanted to make sure I documented book purchases.

I did read American History in Black and White and it was very interesting. There are many truths in this book that not many people are aware of and I believe every American including high school students should read.

And this next two books I did read but upon reading the titles and the synopsis on Goodreads I still struggled to remember what it was about so I went in search of this book so I could skim through the pages to refresh my memory.

I still have books packed away in boxes from our move to OK two years ago. I went through two boxes and this book wasn't in there. It was nighttime so I got tired and stopped looking.

This is the other book that I couldn't remember either and fortunately I did find this one in one of the boxes. I skimmed through the book but the story still didn't seem familiar. How awful. I've never re-read a book because I still have so many other books to read and don't want to waste my time re-reading however, this bugs me and so I'm going to re-read this one. If I end up remembering the story in the middle of reading it then I'll stop and move on to a new book.

Books are not just objects to be read. They are

to be cherished. They provide us with new perspectives, fresh ideas,

and thought-provoking stories that can help us make sense of the world around us. 

Living Life As Usual

 April 2020

Reading back on this day on my agenda, I couldn't help but laugh and get disgusted at the same time. I laughed because the way I expressed myself in detail using several expletives to describe our despicable reality at the time, all planned out by the left is still unbelievable ... and I am disgusted because what was done is nothing short of, well, disgusting. 

Jacob (like most office workers) had to go to his place of employment to pick up his special work chair and a keyboard. 

In Washington state about all citizens did what the government ordered them to do. The stay home order was utterly ridiculous and completely done out of pure manipulation to control people.

The government was successful in creating panic. Stores ran out of essential items. For example, toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, water, frozen food, canned goods, flour and rice were gone off the shelves. Those people that liked to be told what to do were verbally attacking those that just wanted to be left alone.  I was in disbelief about what was happening to our beloved America. The ones behind all this clearly want(ed) to destroy her. All this manipulation, control and corruption makes me sad. 

God gave us Christians freedom. We weren't about to live in fear and stay indoors day after day. We continued to live our God-given freedoms and enjoy the life and creation He blessed us with.

Sydna's cat, Lila can be a sweet girl. She was inspecting our new sectional. April still brought forth chilly rainy days, which I love and enjoy.

Weather like this makes coloring a perfect pastime. I like adult coloring books with flowers. They just have to be simple drawings and not a bunch of multiple tight designs which makes the picture too busy and overwhelming.

Now that Jacob has been working from home and Riley's school year was cancelled (until further notice) we've been taking afternoon walks together, sometimes twice a day. We came across this cat that belonged to one of Riley's friends. He was a very sweet cat. I believe his name was Milo. 

Then we spotted this gray cat across the street who walked over to us when we called it. He was cute too. Rolled over and smiled at us ... at least that's what it seemed like, lol.  

I can't remember what this flowering shrub is called but I love it because it blooms all year long. And it's pretty too and it spreads which is a plus. 

There were several magnolia trees in the neighborhood next to ours.

After a few weeks since the lockdown began Riley's school finally sent an email stating that students were to pick up a laptop from school and that they would be having online classes. The excitement for this new venture didn't last. Riley became bored quickly therefore it was a challenge for him to stay engaged and up to speed. 

Meanwhile, all of us being home didn't face this girl. Just look how cozy and cute she looks. 

I love her toebeans.

And here, Lila's doing weird things. She decided to get cozy inside Riley's shorts.

Silly girl.

Jacob surprised me with a pretty tulip bouquet just because. How chivalrous. I love it!

Even during these tyrannical times, I am glad I have plenty of things to do at home (while Jacob works) to keep me busy, like choosing something to read from my home library. 

Here we are on another afternoon walk. I like this tree. Wish I knew the name of it. 

Look how pretty!

Hanging out with her owner. She definitely looks comfortable.

Natasha Crain is a great Christian Apologist. She's written four books. I've read her first two so far. Her books are mind opening. As a new Christian, things she writes about, I had never thought of before. I was hooked and honestly a bit overwhelmed but as I continued reading, I became fascinated about all these biblical truths she talks about in her books. And now I am able to pass this important information down to my kids.

I am thankful for a cozy home. I am glad that we enjoy being at home either playing games, reading or watching movies together. I am thankful that both Jacob and I get to make delicious home cooked meals that we all enjoy. 

I'm thankful and grateful for having a place to call home ... on the same token, being home day after day after day eventually becomes tiresome. There's only so much isolation from nature that one can take until we become restless. So, we continued to enjoy one of God's greatest gifts He made for humanity to enjoy, nature. Breathing the fresh clean air and stimulating our minds while hiking or going on a leisurely walk is a God-given right and we made sure that wasn't taken away from us. Besides, it's also healthy for our minds and bodies. 

Learn to see life with healthy optimism.

February Random Happenings

 February 2020

For the last couple of years, we've had rabbits in our back yard, either having babies or just stopping by to eat. Rabbits are so very cute, aren't they? 

This white rabbit would stop by with its brown rabbit partner. They were big, almost appeared domesticated however, we would see them in other people's yards as well during different times of the year. I guess they were the neighborhood's resident rabbits. 

They kept coming back for about an entire month. Riley was hesitant to touch it but Nathan touched it.

For Valentine's Day. Riley's teacher, Mrs. Edwards had her students make their own Valentine's box. She always challenged them to be creative. Jacob helped a bit. Picachu was what Riley settled on, it looks pretty decent.

I had gone to the store and had taken grocery bags in the house. I absentmindedly placed my keys on top of the back bumper. Well, I forgot to get them when I was done unloading the bags and pressed the button to close the tailgate when I realized too late that the keys were left there. They got wedged between the bumper and the tailgate. The remote was sticking out halfway. After trying to wiggle the remote for about ten minutes, Sydna was finally able to pry it loose. Thank goodness! It got scratched but surprisingly didn't get damaged. Thanks Sydna!

On our trip to Oregon, we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel. You can always count on finding pretty things for the home or cool miscellaneous items. I picked up this pretty coloring book with Bible verses. Coloring sure keeps one busy. Pretty flowers.

Crocuses are pretty. I placed them in Reagan and Lincoln's barrel planter. 

Just a few random pictures to give you a glimpse of home life. After all, these everyday life events are what makes life wonderful and meaningful. 

Live gratefully, not arrogantly. Have fun but don't flaunt. It's all in one's attitude.

A Christmas Outing

December 2019

I had a cold early December. I wasn't feeling well so I put on a Christmas movie - Die Hard and began writing out Christmas cards. I made sure to drop them off at the Post Office as soon as I was finished. I like to get presents and cards mailed out to family and friends in early December so I can enjoy the season with my husband and kids. 

Friday, December 13, 2019

Jacob took the day off from work. The day was one of those perfect cloudy Winter days. 

Jacob made his delicious breakfast; hash brown casserole, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy! So good!! After dropping Riley off at school we went to U-Village to get the last of the kids presents.

We stopped by Macrina's Bakery and got an Americano and a dessert. I believe this was an eggnog cheesecake. 

And I got this pastry stuffed with almond paste. They were both so good.

After picking Riley up from school we had dinner at BBQ Pete's. Our favorite spot for BBQ ribs.

In the evening we drove to Bellevue for the Snowflake Lane event. It is held nightly all through December. It gets super crowded. We try to go to it every year, luckily it's never rained hard on us ... just a light sprinkle. It's always been very cold though so dressing in layers is a must!

We always get to this event about an hour early so the sidewalks weren't full of people yet.

About fifteen minutes before the show begins the event staff goes around giving away these candy cane lollypops (Riley loves them) and take pictures with the characters.

People get very excited once it starts "snowing". Just have to make sure to keep your mouth closed or you'll end up inhaling soap suds. Ew.

I forget why he was laughing so hard but I love his expression.

Mrs. Claus

It was a fun long day but an enjoyable one.

It is good to be children sometimes, and never

better than at Christmas, when its Mighty Founder was a child Himself.