the Help

I just finished this book last night. I started it Sat. and could barely out it down, but I am like that with almost any book I read. The writing is done well. I really felt like I was watching these interactions and conversations.

This book added to my recent thoughts about my jobs. I watch children and clean homes. But I am personally involved in all of these situations. I talk with all the families as friends. Recently I was talking with a friend about her ex boss's thoughts on the cleaning service. Basically his view is they are to be neither seen or heard, just do their job and be gone. Makes me wonder if I cross the line with my jobs. But I genuinely care for these families and their homes. I think they care about me too.

I do get that all work relationships do not have to be personal. But I don't think people in jobs such as cleaning are less of people. We are all people. We are all created by God in His image. He loves us all the same, and gives us all the same opportunity to love Him as well.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
What else are you reading this summer?

~Becky

Summer Reading Books 1 and 2

Each year I challenge myself to read a book a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
So far I have read two.

The first book I read is:

This is an ebook, and is currently only .99 cents here. It is a great book for those just starting to homeschool or those who have been homeschooling already. It reminds you why you should simplify and some ideas on how to do so. I went to a class given by this author at Enoch. She was very down to earth. She also has blog that I also am enjoying as well. This book is a quick read, but still worth it.

The second book I just completed (for the second time) is:

The author was at the Wellness Week I attended in May. She was so encouraging to me on my exercise journey. I bought this book at Wellness Week and quickly read it while there. But I wanted to reread it and fully digest each chapter. It is a great book. It also is a great motivator to seek Christ in all your endeavors, and give exercise to Him as an act of worship. It has a lot of heart from the author and also testimonies from others throughout the book. All while centered in Christ. You can buy the book here. Of course yours won't be an autographed copy like mine, but you still will want to read this book.

What are you reading now? What is on your summer reading list?

-Becky

p.s. I was not given free copies of these books, nor was I paid to do these reviews. These are just my opinions on these books. I also do not get any commission if you buy these books from the authors directly or any online stores.

12th book read

Just finished this book as well. If you want to take your mind of life and just relax you might try Amish fiction. It works for me. Plus I read this entire book in about 3 hours.

-Becky

What else I am reading

Currently I am reading:

Upgrade by Kevin Swanson

Good and Angry by Scott Turansky & Joanne Miller

The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell

Taking Care of the Me in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel

Will Medicine Stop the Pain? by Nancy Leigh Demoss

I like to read a few books at a time. I also want to start:

Sarah's Gift by Marta Perry

The Mom Factor by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

I just got the last three (one from the library and two I ordered as they were unavailable at the library.)

Do you like to read? Do you read one book at a time or more? What types of books do you read?

-Becky

11th Book Read

I literally just finished this book. I really had no clue that Christians were still being persecuted so intently today for their faith. This seems like something that would have occurred years ago, but still today?

Imagine you are sitting in your living room, reading an old family Bible or singing songs of praise to God. Without warning the police storm in. They ransack your home, taking what they want, especially that Bible you are reading. They may arrest you. They may harm you. Your crime: worshipping God. If you have children at home it is worse, as it is illegal to teach them about Christ, they most likely will be taken into custody.

Honestly, it is very hard for me to imagine, as we have so much freedom in the United States. It is a mighty reminder to thank God so much that I can say His name freely. Also, I need to pray about what He wants me to do now that I am aware that not everyone has the freedom to do so.

I will admit that the writing of this book is a bit choppy, and hard to follow at times, but the message needs to be heard.

I read this 400 page book in two days, mostly with tears running down my face. I kept wanting to believe that this was all fiction, but God used this book to show my heart that although this particular book is fiction, the message is all too real.

-Becky

10th book read

I have always fantasized about living in colonial or pioneer days. This book painted a great picture of that life and yikes they all worked so hard.

Waking up at like 3am to light fire and make bread, um not for me (the waking up early part.)
Getting to site of your home and having to build it from scratch, including making wooden nails, and living in a cave, tent, etc. until it is finished. Maybe I could do that (I know you are laughing now.)
Making your own socks by shearing sheep, making yarn, possibly dying yarn, and then knitting them, I could possibly handle that.
Saving seeds, working land, harvesting produce, and possibly starving if something went wrong (flood, drought, bugs.) Scary.

I am thankful for all we have learned from those who came before and all the advances made over the years. I am saddened that as each year passed the trust and reliance on God and community has diminished.

-Becky

9th Book Read

I just finished this book (today) and it is chock full of useful information for new homeschoolers and those currently homeschooling.

I recommend this book to all homeschooling parents.

Only 5 more books to go by Labor day to meet my summer reading goal.

-Becky

8th book read

This is a great book. If you are homeschooling, I recommend reading homeschooling books each summer. This book has stuff for preschoolers through high school. Author adds lots of funny life stories that I appreciated.

Only 6 more books to go until Labor Day.

-Becky

7th book read this summer

Last night I read the third book in The Blessings series Something Old, Something New by Beverly Jenkins. It was my least favorite book in the series. The books characters were engaged in premarital activities; and the story lines were resolved so easily (this book is about parents raising foster kids, and in a few instances the kids just magically let go off all their issues. It was too fairytalish.) I do not recomend this book and will likely not read anymore in her series.

-Becky

6th book read so far this summer

A Second Helping by Beverly Lewis

This was the sequel to Bring on the Blessings.

I enjoyed reading this book as well.

-Becky

5 books read so far

I have read 5 books since Memorial Day. My goal is 14 by Labor Day. The books I have read are:

1) Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson & Marina Budhos
2) Preparing Sons to Provide for a Single Income Family by Steven maxwell
3) Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins
4) Chief Cook and Bottle Washer by Rita Hestand
5) Homecoming by Dan Walsh

The first book I got at the library, the second I bought at the homeschool convention last year, the last three I got free on my Kindle.

I am actually on my way to the library now to get the sequel to Bring on the Blessings. Yeah!

What are you reading?

-Becky

3rd summer book read

Last night I stayed up until 3 am finishing this book:

Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

It is a good book, I can't wait to read the sequel.

-Becky

Finished another book

My goal is to read 14 books from Memorial day to Labor Day. I just finished my second last night,
Preparing Sons to Provide for a Single-Income Family by Steven Maxwell.

This is a really good book. It is mainly written from one father to another, but mom's of sons (especially single mom's like myself) will gain much from it.

We should all desire to serve the Lord with all we have, have one parent stay home with the kids, be debt free, and value family among all else on earth. I know it is not possible in each case (as I am a working mom by necessity) it still is in my opinion something to aspire too. This books shows how to bring up your sons so that they have a similar desire as well as teaching them to be productive from a very young age. Amen to that!

-Becky

Reading

I love reading. I have a goal to read fourteen books by Labor Day.

I just finished one.
It is called Sugar Changed the World.

It is a history of sugar, and those who made bringing sugar to us (commoners) possible. Mostly it was slave labor, and the life a slave led was terrible. This book, although written to young adults, was very educational and informative for me.

I also am reading with Joshua Spring with the Moody's, which is number 4 in a series for children.

This series is written by a homeschool graduate about a homeschooling family. You can check out all the books here. Joshua really enjoys these books and begs for me to keep reading after each chapter.

I love reading, and am so glad my boys enjoy it too. Jason is known to get lost in a book for a few hours. Joshua has just started reading a few chapter books on his own, but still really enjoys being read to. Joshua also has taken to reading to Kaiden every day. It is really sweet. Kaiden also enjoys being read to and looking at books independently.

I have this theory that if you read to children everyday or at least a few times a week from birth, they will enjoy reading. I actually read a study that just having books in the home will create lifelong readers. One of my homeschool goals is to instill a love for reading in my boys. I also want them to be able to comprehend what they read and be able to discuss it as well. A good thing about this goal is that books can be free (library or getting books from people giving them away) or very inexpensive (used book sales, yard sales, and thrift shops.)

Do you enjoy reading? Do your children? Do you use the library? If yes, how often?

-Becky