Archive for book review
The Lord Builds the House ~ The 127th Psalm ~ Illustrated by Johannah Bluedorn
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Illustrated by Johannah Bluedorn
This book is simply breathtaking in its creatively detailed drawings and inspired subject matter. Johannah has certainly captured the domestic Godliness of the spirit of a home dedicated to His service, and built by the Lord. It is now officially a family treasure here at our house, and sits on one of the revered bookshelves in the living room (ie; not the kids' rooms, nor my own)! When it first arrived, our children simultaneously exclaimed "WOW!" Tabitha asked, "Who drew this?!" When I told them that a fellow homeschooler had done it, Tabitha said, "She must be famous! Does she make lots of these books?" Then, we proceeded to drop everything we were doing and ended up sitting there, spellbound for quite some time, perusing the pages of this lusciously illustrated book, getting lost in its playfully minute details...
Within its pages is a wholesome, vibrantly colorful feast for the eyes, and inspiration for the soul. Numerous scenes depict children together, and with their parents, both working and playing, outdoors and in the home, animal families, exquisite flowers, beautifully stippled borders around some of the illustrations, fireflies and paper lanterns. My personal favorite though, is the very first drawing of the little girl swinging outside of her house, which shows the scene under the ground as well, complete with the tree roots and various animal families shown all cozily huddled in their burrows below the ground.
It's somehow, to me, reminiscent of a happy time in my own childhood. One of the few photos I have of myself as a little girl is of me swinging from a tree swing. It also reminds me alot of my own artistic endeavors as a girl. I used to draw countless detailed pictures of animals, as does my own daughter now. I took drawing seriously, and ended up going on to study Fine Art in college for three years.
This book is special in that it made me smile, and brought a genuine joy to my own childrens' eyes as only a quality picture book can. Johannah has managed to capture within these pages the sweet essence of childhood and family unity, a perfect accompaniment to the 127th Psalm. Yes, we are all temporarily enchanted when we pick up this book... Psalm 127 in particular has very special meaning to me, and to our family, as I know that it does to so many other Christian families alike. Thank you Johannah, for sharing your talent with us all. I do look forward now to collecting all of your childrens' books eventually. You have a most distinguished style... kid and artsy Mommy approved!
Tabitha (who will be 7yo next month) says, "I like this book and it's one of my favorite poems. I like how it has animals in it. It has an animal to represent the different ideas. She's really good at drawing horses..."
We also received a copy of Johannah Bluedorn's beautiful watercolor "Reading Among the Pansies" on an Art card (which we're using as a special bookmark).
Little Bitty Baby Learns Hebrew ~ by Johannah Bluedorn
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Little Bitty Baby Learns Hebrew
by Johannah Bluedorn
This book truly is as sweet as it sounds! For some time I have been interested in learning Biblical Hebrew with our children. Recently, we have begun the task of committing the Hebrew alphabet to our memories, pulling from various resources. Then this precious little book found its way into our hands, Little Bitty Baby Learns Hebrew. It has been a timely gift to me, and to my children, and is now our most practical first guide. Each letter has easy step by step instructions as to how it is to be formed correctly. The pronunciation of each letter is clearly given, complete with picture associations (Johannah's lovely illustrations to go along with each letter) to aid in one's remembrance of it.
It's been a joy for us to receive, read and to use, and has now become our favorite Hebrew primer! Though it's a board book, and as the title suggests, is appropriately designed for much younger students than myself, and my 6yo daughter and 9yo son, it's simplistic approach does, however, lend itself to otherwise apprehensive beginners of all ages. We have therefore found that it is appropriate and enjoyable for older students as well. My kids haven't been put off by the name at all... rather they think it's funny to say over and over again!
Due to this book's being a "board book", it is nice and sturdy, which is coming in handy for all of the use it's getting at our dining room table lately, as we pass it around in the mornings to copy our letter formations and practice pronunciation. This book is simply lovely, and such a pleasure to learn from! I'm thankful to have found such a sweet picture book from which to commit these most special Hebrew characters to my childrens' memories. So, don't let the name fool you, nor the fact that it's a board book... If your children love beautiful, sweet picture books as mine do, or if you're in the market for a simple Hebrew alefbet primer, then I highly recommend this book!
We're on our way, finally learning the Hebrew alefbet together!;-) I'm eager to check out the Greek Alphabetarion next!
Nathanael (who will be 10yo next month) says, "I like the shapes of the Hebrew letters, and this book makes it easy to write them. It's easy to understand."
Purity Picture Books we’ve enjoyed~
Posted by: | Comments"Love...comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
~1 Timothy 1.5 (niv)
The Princess & the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity
By Jennie Bishop
Over the past couple of years that we've had and read this book, our now 9yos has enjoyed it's story of waiting and purity as much as has his little sister... It's a timeless story, and a great courtship primer. I gave this lovely book to my 30 yo sister as a gift year before last, after she went through a most heart-wrenching divorce. It's blessed her as well. How I wish that I would have had this type of story read to me as a child, and the inevitably heart-forming discussions that due ensue upon its reading and enjoyment... Also, the illustrations are just captivating!
Summary:
A loving king and queen present their daughter with a gift from God---her first kiss---to keep or give away. The wise girl waits for the man who is worthy of her precious gift. But where is he and how will she ever find him? A marvelous, beautifully illustrated parable for children and parents. 32 pages, hardcover from Warner.
Excerpt:
Long ago, in a wonderful castle on a mountain of splendor, a beautiful princess was born. Her parents were the king and queen of the mountain and all the green valley below.
The king and queen loved the little princess even before she was born. On the day she came into the world, the royal couple gave their daughter a very special gift from God - her first kiss. While the princess was growing up, the king and queen kept this precious gift safe in their care.
When the princess was finally grown, the king and queen called her to their side.
"We have something very special to give you," said the queen.
Up, up, up the royal family went to a secret room in a tower of the castle. On an elegant table in the center of the room was the same gift given to the princess long ago ... the kiss.
Excerpted from Princess & the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity by Jennie Bishop.
Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
~Psalm 119.9 (niv)
The Squire and the Scroll
By Jennie Bishop
Nathan and Tabitha have both enjoyed having this book read aloud to them. N was especially excited to receive it, after T's having claimed The Princess and the Kiss as her own... He's read it to himself numerous times, and really does identify with this bravely cunning, chivalrous squire.
drawing horses~
Posted by: | CommentsFor the past few days N and T have been utterly inspired! They've been drawing horses (and not much else!), ALOT of horses, and unicorns as well (we're reading the Narnia books). They've been referring to the following book (which we'd picked up at a thrift store a couple of years ago), and turning out some amazing drawings, if I do say so myself... I shall have to post some pics of their artwork soon! They've been coloring their drawings with colored pencils. We prefer to use the nice prismacolor pencils, as it makes doing your artwork so much more rewarding.
What a story!
Posted by: | CommentsLast weekend I started reading Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers. I've never read any of her books before this. I just finished it this morning... stayed up all night reading it. I could hardly put it down last night, to go to bed finally - at 4:30 a.m.! I'd tried earlier, but couldn't sleep!
Thought I'd finish it, but my eyes started crossing. So, I slept in until 10 a.m. this morning and have been enjoying my coffee tremendously today. 
*sighs* But I don't even feel too tired really. Just so warmed by that story and the hope it so resonates with.
A friend had placed it in my hands a couple of weeks ago, exclaiming how wonderfully powerful the story is, and how it had changed her so. Yesterday when I was at T's dance class, with book in hand, two different ladies stopped me when they saw the book (one I know, my age, another lady in her 50's that I don't know), exclaiming "Isn't that a wonderful book?! Doesn't it just rip your heart out? How can you close it?! Where are you?"
I wept throughout, stopping numerous times just to think, pray and take it all in, as well as let some stuff out that came to the surface in me. It starts out so dark and tragic. It's stirred some deep and long buried emotions within me, longings and hurts, unexpectantly spotlighting within my soul some ongoing personal struggles, denials and even forsaken hope... It's ushered me to my knees in humble prayer, and reminded me how thankful I am for my own Hosea of a husband, and has challenged me to love him more freely.
I wrestled with this fear for years... that used to just close in on me. I thought I'd never be able to be the wife my husband deserves, nor to give him the love and support he truly needs and longs for. I've feared that I was just too broken from the start, too empty...depleted. And those fears would paralyze me. But over the years, I've seen God miraculously healing me through my husband's faithful love, his unmerited acceptance and constant forgiveness. He's been our Heavenly Father's tool for my soulish restoration in so many ways. I know that I can trust him...both my husband, and my God.
So, here's a truth, a faltering of my faith that I so wrestled with for years. It closed me up to Chris more than I care to admit... I used to resent him for wanting what I perceived to be too much from me, though he never pressured me...he just always held out this hope that we'd share more, that I'd open up to him more, be more affectionate, really learn to love him, unselfishly and with abandon... Now, I'm so thankful for his hope, which eventually lit a flame of hope within me as well that has brought tremendous healing and intimacy between us.
I can endure my own despair, but not another's hope.
~William Walsh
Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd.
~Shakespeare
That thought so resonated with me... But this week my Redeemer has shaken me up, and He's reminded me that in HIM, all things are possible. I feel like He's having me take account of a work He's been doing in me for the past 10.5 years of our marriage... and I PRAISE Him! *sighs* Yep, I'm feelin' a bit emotional right now, can ya tell? It's been a particularly emotional week for me this week...don't remember the last time I've cried this much, pitiful I am! 
Think I'll go re-read the book of Hosea now.
His Spirit has wooed me through this reading... I love HIM. How Glorious is our Redeemer!!
But now, thus says the LORD,
your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you,
O Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!"
~Isaiah 43.1
Come, let us return to the Lord;
for he has torn, that he may heal us;
he has stricken, and he will bind us up.
~Hosea 6.1
REDWALL
Posted by: | CommentsWe've been listening to this book on cd the past week, and loving it (Chris included)!
REDWALL
Book One: The Wall
by Brian Jacques
We checked it out from the library, as we had a couple of long road trips last weekend. Nathan and Chris have especially loved this adventurous tale! We're all very much looking forward to hearing Book 2 in the series, Mossflower (which our library also has!).
