A Net in Time

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planned spontaneity

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Ah, the day is almost at a close and I’ve stayed up WAY too late!  But I had stuff that needed doing after a busy day moving dirt and caring for critters.  It gave me time to consider the five minute Friday word prompt of spontaneous.   The end result was planned spontaneity, perhaps it might resonant with you.

planned spontaneity

planned spontaneity

I like to plan
my spontaneity!
It’s weird I know
to think to plan it out
to have a day where
anything can go.

Camping is spontaneous
with walks, fishing, kayaking,
and so much more.

But just dropping things
and going?
Now that my lad is
big and grown
that spontaneity, well,
honestly, even while young
I had days that I planned
that anything could go.

Just not doing?
I dunno…

but then again
I recall friends
when the lad was young
commending my spontaneity.
Because I learned
early on.. that
just because I planned a
day… didn’t mean my plans
would come to fruition.

That going with
how the day played out
was more beneficial
to the family as a whole
than fretting over not
accomplishing what I planned.

But PLANNING a day
where anything can happen,
suits just being spontaneous
and makes the day even
better because literally
anything could happen.

AND THAT… that
planned total spontaneity
is the fun of it all.
To know that we might go
to the park, we might
bake cookies, or we could even
hit the beach and have
ice cream for lunch!

We might be
unplanned as we’ve learned
to go with the flow.
but going with the
flow brings it’s own
anxieties.
But having a day
completely free… oh my!
That planned spontaneity
is so much fun… and
it is so very very good.

planned spontaneity

Speaking

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

It’s something I need to keep in mind you know?  How I can make my plans, and whatnot, that rolling with how the day goes is a God’s plan as well.   He knows better than I what should be done in the course of one of my days.  🙂   And, though I can’t definitely say that planned spontaneity is in his will… I am positive he delights in our joy in fellowship with each other.  It’s good to have fun together no? 

Mothering by the Book

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Mothering by the Book) through Nuts about Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Mothering by the Book is a book of encouragement.  Encouragement for moms in their parenting journey and encouragement to dig into the classics.  Use the classic stories to help you create a new framework for thinking.   Perhaps it’s time for another approach, you think? Look into the classics, see them in the light of God’s love, and see ways to parent better.  🙂

Mothering by the book

The Basic Details of Mothering by the Book

Mothering by the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy By Jennifer Pepito introduces us to using classical literature in raising our families.  240 pages, published by Bethany House Publishers, 14 chapters, book suggestions, verses to memorize, and study guide questions. 

I am reviewing a softcover edition for Nuts About Books.  This book falls into the Christian Parenting, Women’s issues, Motherhood, and Family and relationships sections of your library. 

Chapter titles which other than the first one (Let Literature free us from fear) all start with “overcoming fear” , so they are as follows:

  • of being alone through journaling
  • the baby years by staying present
  • of failure by speaking life
  • of children leaving the faith through family identity
  • of failing our children by living for a greater purpose
  • of the future by not complaining
  • of not having enough by thankfulness
  • of not being able to managed by building good habits
  • by running after purpose
  • leading through forgiveness
  • by knowing scripture

And then closing with Sing to shut up Fear.

Digging Deeper

You know how you read some non-fiction books and every chapter is laid out exactly the same?   Has it benefits right?  This is exactly what you’ll find Mothering by the Book.  You’ll find yourself doing study questions, memorizing scripture, as well as exploring new books on the topic at hand.  So much reading and spending time in God’s word… it’s a good thing that! 

The author tried to pick verses that went along with the chapter topic. 

The font is easy to read and printed on a crisp white page. Frequently shoutouts in grey scale would occur, drawing our attention to important details. 

The author makes it very easy to follow along with point form, headings, etc.  She breaks each chapter down into digestible portions and speaks with a neighbourly tone. 

You are meant to take your time with this mothering book.  Taking your time to examine yourself AND do some reading out loud… to yourself and/or to your family.   Each chapter starts with a quote from a classic book you are encouraged to read. 

So go ahead, set about reading Little Britches, or Baby, or Cheaper by the Dozen.  Read them, get involved with them, but just read.  Connect again to interesting characters and talk about them with your family and learn important life lessons from the books your read.  Be seeking for good books to read, whether it’s the one Ms. Pepito recommends or others.  Reading opens up new ideas and paths for us, shouldn’t we be reaching for them? 

Should you read it?

The author’s goal is simple.  She wants us to stop being afraid by giving us an alternate behaviour to practice.  Don’t want to be a grumble?  Find things to be thankful for!   Don’t want your family to have no purpose in life?  Show them you have a greater purpose….. serving the Lord.  

Fear does not need to stop us in our tracks.  We need to look for away around it.  The author found this as she dug through the classics she read aloud to her family.  So perhaps… you might too.  Look to the classics to find answers to some of your fears.  Memorize scriptures so you have words to put to what you see God doing and what he wants you to become.  Fear less… read more! 

Find some encouragement to do so in Mothering by the Book. 

Did I find it helpful on my parenting journey?   Not really, my lad is almost an adult now.  And we have always read tons of books and talked about them.  But it all makes sense right?   Dealing with fear or insecurity… Learn from those who have gone on before and go to the scriptures.    

Other parenting books you might enjoy

Over the years I’ve reviewed other parenting books.  

By Way of the Moonlight

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (By Way of the Moonlight) through Nuts about Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

I wasn’t sure what to expect from By Way of the Moonlight, then I met Nana Dale and Allie, two compelling characters.  Horses, interesting characters, goals in mind, and foibles you need to work through, what else could one ask for?  Oh yes, a bad guy!  There is indeed a bad guy!  So, looking for a personal story with a touch of faith… look no further!

The Basic Details

391 pages round out the pages of this Bethany House book by Elizabeth Musser.   By Way of the Moonlight draws us into the equestrian world from 1931-1943.   Learn about the beach patrol as the first line of defence against German U-Boats, Victory Boats and the importance of women in the workforce, the threat of malaria, and more.  Sit back and enjoy the love of horses and see their potential as therapy animals.  Watch two ladies learn to deal with their interests in healthy ways. 

Chapters alternate in generations as we see the life of Nana Dale lived out, and Allie as she works through her emotions at the passing of her Nana and discovers the truth of her Nana’s life. Elements of faith weave their way through the lives of both women. 

Elizabeth Musser, from France, writes ‘entertainment for the soul’ in a number of books. Her works have won her a number of awards.  Along with her husband, she is engaged in mission work. 

Looking Deeper into By the Way of the Moonlight

Two main protagonists and their families.  Allie and Nana Dale.  They have the loves of their lives, their horses, their families, and those they contended with. 

The alterations in chapters moved smoothly and readers will be able to follow the timeline smoothly. 

Nothing objectionable, and the love interests, while in some ways central to the story, did not take centre stage.  Centre-stage was solely devoted to the two ladies and how they processed the events of their lives and worked through their foibles. 

At the close of the story you’ll discover discussion questions as well the author’s note.  The discussion questions cover the book as a whole as opposed to going by chapter.   The end note pointed out truth as well as the author’s need to adapt to fit the story well. 

Read it yourself?

I would call this less of a Christian Fiction and more of a fiction read with some faith-based elements.  The faith elements are more in the form of prayers said but not actually in faith shown and lived out. 

But I didn’t read By Way of the Moonlight as a faith-based book.  I read it as just a heartwarming story about the lives of two women.  I loved the history aspect concerning the different aspects for WW2 including the horse beach patrol, the coast guard and the building of the Victory ships.  Women volunteers were highly sought after to help the war effort. 

I love the story that not only warms my heart but teaches me important facts about history as well, don’t you?   Just rather gives me the whole package, you know?  

We weren’t given a whole lot of information about the bad guy element, beyond the sorta family relationship and their sneakiness to achieve their own ends. 

Unexpected twists came up which I kinda thought in some ways were just rather convenient as opposed to needful.  Didn’t really make a whole lot of sense other than to make a sad part of a story somewhat sadder. But made it nicer for Allie in the end I guess.  

I did thoroughly enjoy this read and would happily read another of this calibre by the author.  She writes a story that is indeed an experience for the soul, making me feel warm within.  I encourage you to give By Way of the Moonlight a read, plan to spend a evening or two reading!   Don’t stay up too late!

Your Best Life Later

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Your Best Life Later) through Ascot Media Group. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Andy McQuitty shares his personal life as he writes to his children to encourage their spiritual growth.  He wrote each a journal over their years of maturing. The end result is his book Your Best Life Later, a compilation of scripture, images, and scripture. A journal that speaks to how to live out our Christian faith.

Your Best Life Later, is a compilation of five journals author Andy McQuity kept for each of his five children. McQuitty talks about child-rearing issues that cross generations. His goal: provide wisdom for parents and Godly messages.  These are intended for readers to learn from and share with their own children.

Published by Leadership Books, you’ll find it’s a hardcover with a textbook feel to it. Five parts for each of the author’s children along with an afterword.  This tome runs at 392 pages. 

Looking Deeper into Your Best Life Later

Six parts make up Your Best Life Later, each part is a separate journal written with each specific child in mind.   Journal entries include such topics as self-esteem, motives, handling big changes, character, the sabbath, and independence.    Each entry to centred around God and is very much directed toward each of his children. 

His goal in sharing these journals is to enable parents help their children mature into their faith and learn to live it out.  He’s very open about using real-life examples to show Christian living.

His long-term view is preparing our sons and daughters, for a future life in heaven (thus the, your best life later title).  We need to build spiritual maturity in those we love most. This is what these devotional journal entries are all about. 

You’ll find scattered pictures throughout. These pictures included images of the American Flag, items from his children’s lives, and personal notes. 

We are urged to see these journal entries as a quiet devotional time to encourage our faith and to help us with our spiritual maturity.  This will help us share our faith in tangible ways with our children, helping them see God’s impact on their lives.  This will help out most loved ones gain spiritual maturity themselves.

Scripture verses that fit each journal entry were added in 2021 as he was putting these journals together for publication. 

Should you get it?

Well, I don’t know.

I have to admit that I struggled with Your Best Life Ever.   I felt to me like I was reading a personal journal and I really didn’t know what to do with it.  Kinda like you are bumping into a private conversation you shouldn’t be butting into.  But that was my struggle AND it might not be yours.

The journal entries I read were packed full of wisdom and godly advice.   I love his heart and how he so willingly showed it to each of his children (and now to us, a greater audience).   He pointed out their strengths (like a gentle heart, or leadership) and how they can be both strengths or weaknesses.   I think he met his goal of providing godly advice to his young adults. 

I think it’s well worth adding to the shelves of my church library.  Depending on the person reading, this will be a helpful parenting tool.   Certainly makes me wish I had done this for my lad through his formative years… perhaps it’s not too late?  

Ways to be Generous

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Miss Kate has posted this week’s five minute Friday word prompt.  And honestly, this word simply isn’t resonating with me today.  Putting off writing my post today, hoping that inspiration would strike.  I can’t really say it has but at least I have a title to work from!  Ways to be Generous. 

ways to be generous

Poem: Ways to be Generous

Ways to be generous
the question is asked
or perhaps not but
it should be.

How do we be
generous with each other?
Is it just a matter of
paying it forward?

Making sure that
we occasionally make
life easier for others
around us through the
things that we do?

Perhaps generosity stems
from more than the things
that we do, but is just more
easily seen that way.

I picture the mom
with the revolving door
of children hers and more
running in and out
feeling welcome with things to do.

I see letters written
to the folks in prison that
isn’t heralded and often
not cared about heralding
Christ and his mercy.

The quietness of sending
bulletins and messages to
students off the college
for the first time.

A friend meeting for
coffee (or tea) at a moment’s
notice just because she was
nudged by the Spirit of need.

The prayer left on
a blog post because
T’was a needful thing
more than known perhaps.

Perhaps ways to be generous
doesn’t have to be flashy
or obvious but just a
quiet, generous spending
of the hours and minutes allotted.

ways to be generous

God Talks to Us

Psalm 112:5

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Summertime Reading

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You’ve already seen the books I read in July, and I thought today I’d continue telling you about my summertime reading!  Not quite as many books this month since I’ve been spending some time building a shed!   Anyways, I will be linking to reviews or to amazon links to make it easy in case you want to get them yourself!  🙂  Hurts you none, is MUCH appreciated if you do buy, and it helps me out! 

summertime reading

Books read for Reviews

The Science of Babies.  Gives you the language needed to talk with your children, and you can add your own social context/faith to the conversation. 

Listen to the language of the trees.  I love informative picture books, and this one does a good job. 

Future Worlds.  A hugely fun book that you can use to develop critical thinking skills in your children, or a love of “can I be a part of that future possibility”.  

Don’t Worry, Be Ha-Pea.  Food + puns = a fun book.  

The Button Pusher.  I thought this a well-done book about ADHD and how hard it is to cope with it at times, but good helps and parental support make it easier. 

Books read for fun

The Scrivener’s Bones.  Hubsters LOVED Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians so promptly ordered the next in the series.   So as he finished it (and then ordered the next one) I get to read the one he finished!  I may get through more of this series by the end of the month.  FUN books.  Get them for your middle-schoolers!  🙂   I find it immensely humourous how much he likes them and insists on getting the next as soon as he’s done the last!  🙂 

Lola is Missing.  A mystery, where they are trying to find a missing child.  Started it last month!  Reading it on Kindle.   I’m finding the characters interesting and I’m hoping they find the child.  I’ll be updating when I’ve finished! 

Gentle and Lowly.  What a fantastic journey into the heart of Christ.  I so STRONGLY recommend that you get this book and delve deeply in his heart.  See Christ more clearly, love God more dearly. 

Time of the Twins.  I admittedly didn’t care for this book and will most likely return it (on audible). Hubsters was surprised that I didn’t care for it as he knows the series and expected that I would. 

How about you?

What books have kept you engaged with your summertime reading?   Anything that you would recommend?   If so, why? 

Roots Laid Down

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So, it’s been a long, rather tiring day.   I worked hard at my job today with lots of product to move, and I had a dog to walk before and after work as well.  A neighbour is away for a short holiday, so I’m helping him out with Boone.   Such a NICE dog.  🙂 Anyways, I sit here and ponder (while resting my aching feet) the word ROOT.  A word prompt provided by Miss Kate.   And I come up with roots laid down.

AND OOPS, I fell asleep!  So starting again this morning Friday.  Looking out my window at a sunshiny day with a light breeze. 

Roots laid down

Roots Laid Down

Sunshine, Lollipops and rainbows…
I don’t know why
when I think of root
this pops into my brain
running through my dreams
as I slept the night
away, awoken only by the
sudden closing of a door as
my lad heads off to work
at 6 a.m.

I fret over my boy
it seems all the day long.
I don’t mean to,
and I don’t want to,
but it’s a constant thing
in my head.
About how he doesn’t
know for a certainty
that the bible is true
and that God is real
just because some stupid
website told him so.

It’s like he’d rather
believe someone with a
vested interest against God
than believe what he was
taught growing up.

And yet, God,
yes God… keeps saying
that he minds me full well
that he understands my fretting.
And yet, he calls for me
to trust him.
To understand that
he is not finished with my lad.

So can I just trust him?
Can I believe that the
roots laid down for my lad
will have their say in the end?
Can I believe the words
he has written?
About how you train up
a child in the way
they should go…
how that training doesn’t
leave them?

Can I trust him?
Will I let my heart
Stop fretting so?
Will I choose to
follow the roots
laid down for me?

Today I say yes,
Yes, Lord. You the
one who bore the result
of ALL the sin of the
world laid down.
Yes, today I will choose to
honour that and I
Will CHOOSE this day
to trust you.

Will I have to make
that same choice tomorrow?
Most definitely.
It will be a work
in progress to
continually make that
choice. To
honour sacrifice,
to live by what has been
planted in my over
my now 57 years.

What choices will
you make this day?
what roots have been laid
down in your life?

And So God Speaks

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Job 14: 14-17 (ESV)

If a man dies, shall he live again?
    All the days of my service I would wait,
    till my renewal should come.
15 You would call, and I would answer you;
    you would long for the work of your hands.
16 For then you would number my steps;
    you would not keep watch over my sin;
17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag,
    and you would cover over my iniquity.