Mommy Brain

Garfield Eats Crow by Jim Davis
The Animal Rescue Club by John Himmelman
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Jennifer Dussling
The Adventures of Ratman by Ellen Weiss

Egermeier’s Bible Story Book: A Complete Narration from Genesis to Revelation for Young and Old by Elsie E. Egermeier
Favorite Poems Old and New selected by Helen Ferris
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Custard the Dragon and the Wicked Knight by Ogden Nash
Cheep! Cheep! by Jule Stiegemeyer
Something Special by David McPhail
What Dads Can’t Do by Douglas Wood
Rude Giants by Audrey Wood
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole
Dragon’s Merry Christmas by Dav Pilkey
It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles by Jack Prelutsky
Ten Little Lambs by Alice B. McGinty
I Don’t Want to Go to Bed by Tony Ross
That’s Good! That’s Bad! in the Grand Canyon by Margery Cuyler
Apples, Apples, Apples by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
That New Animal by Emily Jenkins
Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer
Don’t Make Me Laugh by James Stevenson
My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza
The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
Best Friends for Frances by Russell and Lillian Hoban
I’ll Do Better Tomorrow, I Promise by Maurine Reynolds Adamek
He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown! by Charles M. Schulz
Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth
The Grannyman by Judith Byron Schachner
Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel

The Adventure Bible for Young Readers
Anastasia Again by Lois Lowry
Joy Sparton and the Vacation Mix-Up by Ruth Johnson
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Aliens for Lunch by Jonathan Etra
Scooby Doo and the Karate Caper by James Gelsey
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets by Dav Pilkey
Phoebe the Spy by Judith Berry Griffin
Scooby Doo and the Vampire’s Revenge by James Gelsey
Scooby Doo Mysteries: Toy Store Terror by James Gelsey
Scooby Doo and the Mummy’s Curse by James Gelsey

(Presumed Guilty by James Scott Bell was provided to me free of charge by Active Christian Media, who received it from the publisher for the purpose of being reviewed.)

If you have a blog and are interested in becoming a reviewer for Active Christian Media, click on the above link. There is a one-time reviewer fee of $25, and then you get sent free books! What is better than that? If you do sign up, please tell them that I sent you.

I can’t remember the last book of James Scott Bell’s I read, but I do remember I enjoyed it. I don’t remember, however, not wanting to put it down and devouring it in two days, which was what happened when I started reading Presumed Guilty.

Dallas Hamilton is a woman of faith. Her husband, Ron, is pastor of a rapidly growing church in L.A. and a published author. She is satisfied with her work helping battered women and children and supporting her husband’s campaign against the pornography industry. The fact that their marriage has grown a little distant is something she’s sure will change.

Her world is shattered when one morning she comes downstairs to police lights and her husband being arrested for murder. Pastor Ron Hamilton, outspoken warrior against the pornography industry, is being accused of sleeping with and then murdering an adult film star. Her husband could never have done it - or could he have?

James Scott Bell has written an unrelenting thriller. He doesn’t shy away from the damage done to people by pornography and adultery. He’s honest about the fact that sin exists even in the church and that it needs to be dealt with. And I especially enjoyed the fact that I couldn’t figure everything out. I hate reading a mystery when I know the answer before I reach the middle. With this book, I thought I knew what was going on, and then the ending totally surprised me, which is what I like in a thriller.

If you like legal thrillers or mysteries, definitely pick up this book. Just make sure you have lots of time for uninterrupted reading!

Kevin took Noah, Jonathan, and Josiah fishing this morning. Natalie and I are headed to the library and then to Grandmama and Papa’s house for a quick visit. When we get home, we’re going to bake lemon squares, recipe courtesy of Randi. Lest I throw all my Weight Watchers progress out the window, we will be taking said lemon squares to my friend Heidi’s house tonight for a spa party. Hand massages, facials, chocolate-dipped strawberries, lemon squares, and girl-talk. What could be better?

…at Club Mom: Homeschooling Styles: What’s What.

My doctor’s nurse called Tuesday to tell me the results of my sinus culture. It’s a combination of yeast and strep/pneumonia bacteria. We discussed the options and decided it didn’t make a lot of sense to thrown antibiotics into a system as out of whack as mine is, and especially since there is already an overgrowth of yeast.

So I’m taking an anti-fungal to clear up the yeast and using a new sinus rinse apparatus that works really well. It actually forces the saline solution into one nostril, through the sinus cavities, and out the other. Sounds painful, huh? But it’s not - at all. I’m hoping this will clear it up.

On doing some research on systemic candida infections (systemic because I don’t have the typical yeast infection women think of), and one of the symptoms is endocrine disorders. The endocrine system includes the adrenals, which produce dopamine, which I am, for some unknown reason, making too much of. Aha! Now this makes sense. Especially since they can’t find anything else wrong with me. (At least not physically - we won’t get into all the ways I’m slightly crazy.)

I’m looking into some natural ways to take care of an overgrowth of yeast. I still need to make a chiropractor appointment, too. And I still have the appointment with the endocrinologist on May 26th. But I’m hoping I won’t need it and that we have (finally) discovered the answer.

Thank you so much for all the kind comments, prayers, suggestions, and concern. You are all terrific! Blogging has brought so many wonderful things to my life, but you are the best of all.

Just wanted to let you all know I set up my comment options so that all first-time comments will be held in moderation. Once you’ve had an approved comment, all of yours will automatically go through. Since I just turned this on, everyone will probably go to moderation at first, but I’m on the computer off and on all day and it shouldn’t take long to get it approved. I’m trying to fight all the evil spammers that think I’m stupid enough to want to buy from an online pharmacy who can’t even spell their spam correctly.

We had our bi-yearly dental check-up today. My mommy pride came out in full force when one of the technicians said, “Your kids are always so well-behaved!” Natalie and Noah did great - no cavities. Jonathan has a baby tooth that is not coming out as quickly as it should and so will go back in two weeks to have it pulled. Natalie also has one that needs to come out, but the dentist said she could have a month to get it out on her own, so she’s highly motivated. Josiah has a small cavity between two teeth. Bad Mommy for not helping him floss often enough.

Nice to have all the check-ups over at the same time, but makes for a long afternoon. On the plus side, I almost finished The Unschooling Handbook while I waited. Recommended for all homeschoolers, not just unschoolers, in my opinion. Lots of good stuff in there.

Home in time to throw a load of laundry in, clean the kitchen and eat dinner and now we’re heading out to a T-Ball game. We are playing the team of one of my best friend’s sons, so I’ll have someone fun to sit with and chat. Last year, we signed up with several friends from church, and it was so much more fun. They’re all doing different things this year, and the other parents aren’t real friendly. Not near as much fun.

Have a great evening!

Three quizzes. Hat tip: Ron

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have high extroversion. You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends. You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation. Enthusiastic and fun, you’re the first to say “let’s go!” Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You’re generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you’ve been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You’re generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium. You are generally broad minded when it come to new things. But if something crosses a moral line, there’s no way you’ll approve of it. You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

You Should Get a PhD in Liberal Arts (like political science, literature, or philosophy)

You’re a great thinker and a true philosopher. You’d make a talented professor or writer.

…in the interest of full disclosure, that I helped the kids with spelling and punctuation on their stories I posted below. Other than that, the words and sentences are all theirs.

The funny thing is, I haven’t worked with them on creative writing very much. Natalie just started Writing Strands 3, but Noah hasn’t shown much interest in writing so I haven’t pushed him. I think the fact that I read to them aloud so much has given them a good idea of what good sentences sound like.

Well, we’re off to Women’s Bible Study and then lunch and play in the park. Supposed to be 70 degrees again today - perfect!

Since we are homeschoolers, and this is supposed to be (partly) a homeschooling blog, I thought I’d post a little about the things the kids have been doing lately.

We watched The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe the Tuesday before Easter, which led to a great discussion of who Aslan is like and why He had to die.

In the next few days, the kids embarked on a huge project to create their own country. They named it Narnia, but then came up with 10 states that they created names for. They drew a map with boundary lines. For each state they drew and then named churches, hospitals, stores, banks and anything else they thought was important for a society. Noah is the king, so I guess it is a monarchy. The stack of paper they have produced is amazing and tomorrow when I shop I’ll be buying a notebook for them to organize all of their maps and building plans. This was not an assignment, it was something they decided to do on their own. I’ve allowed them to spend as much time on it as they would like, a luxury they wouldn’t have if they were in public school. In the meantime, they’re learning all sorts of neat social studies stuff.

Natalie and Noah have both started writing. I’ll bet you can figure out from their writing what they are “into” these days.

Here is Noah’s story. He is 7 years old and in 1st grade.

Neopet on Mystery Island
by Noah K.

Once there was a creature named the Blumaroo. It was a neopet. When that Blumaroo
laid an egg it died. Then the egg hatched. Another hatched and when they came
out they said, “Who are you?”

Then one of them said, “My name is Bounce.”

“And my name is Zoom.”

Then Bounce said, “I think we should go for a walk.” Then they saw another egg. When the egg hatched out came a tiger neopet.

Then the tiger said, “My name is Choosy.”

Then when they got to this strange place they saw a sign that said, “This is Mystery Island.”

“Mystery Island?” said Bounce.

“Should we go in?” said Zoom.

“First I think we should test our powers,” said Choosy.

So Bounce did his power first. When he did it ice came out of his hands.

“Wow!” said Bounce.

Then Zoom did his powers. When he did it fire came out of his mouth.

“Wow!” said Zoom.

Now it was Choosy’s turn. When he did it sharp claws came out of his hands.

“Wow!” said Choosy.

“Now it is time to go in,” said Bounce.

When they got in there was a lot of strange sounds in there. Then they saw a fire monster. Then Bounce got in front of everybody and did his powers and froze the monster.

“Cool!” said Bounce.

Then they saw an ice monster. Then Zoom got in front of everybody and did his power.

“Cool!” said Zoom.

Then they saw a real monster. Choosy got in front of everybody and did his power and sliced the monster.

“Cool!” said Choosy. Then they got to the master of the monsters and everybody did their powers and the master died and then they saw another egg.

When the neopet came out, she said, “My name is Erica.”

The End

Here is the first chapter of Natalie’s story. She is 9 years old and in 3rd grade.

Angela and the Magic Mirror
by Natalie K.

Chapter One

Angela was a tall thin brown haired girl with a nice father and mother. Her father had black hair and her mother had red. Angela’s mother and father had never told her something and she was soon to find out that day. It was a good day. As usual she woke up early in the morning and ate breakfast and went to school. She said hello to her friends and then when school was over she went home.

“Hello, Mother and Father,” she said.

“Hello,” her father said.

She went up into her room and did her homework until her mother called her down for dinner. Angela went down to dinner.

“We have something we have to tell you,” Mother said.

“What is that?” I asked.

The family sat down for dinner and everyone ate. As they were eating, I asked, “What did you want to tell me?”

“Eat, I will tell you at dessert,” Father told her.

Soon dessert was brought out and I asked the same thing again.

My father sighed and talked to my mother. I heard what they were saying.

“Are you sure she is old enough?” my father asked my mother.

“I’m sure,” Mother said.

What are they talking about? Angela thought.

My mother and father sighed.

“First of all this is why we didn’t tell you this long ago, because you weren’t old enough and now you are. You might not believe us but it is true,” Father said.

“Of course. You won’t lie. Why would you lie?” I said.

“Are you ready?” my father asked. “Your mother and I are…”

There was a long silence.

“Are what?” I asked.

My father sighed again.

“We are wizards,” he said.

I couldn’t believe it. I ran into my room and shut my door.

“They can’t be wizards. My mother always told me that magic wasn’t real. Maybe that’s why she always got that look on her face whenever I asked about magic. Wait a minute, if they are wizards, that means I am one, too,” I was so happy that I rushed down stairs.

“I am a wizard, too and you never told me,” I yelled.

My mother sighed.

“Now I know why you didn’t tell me before. I wasn’t old enough,” I said.

“We will bring you to the magic world tomorrow,” Father said. “There is a magic bank and you also have to your broom stick and your wand and we will take you to train number 975 so you can go to the school teaching about magic,”

I was so happy I went straight to bed.

I was thinking about tomorrow and how I would go to the magic bank and how I am a wizard. I couldn’t believe it! I was really a wizard. Then I fell asleep. I dreamt about tomorrow. And how I was really a wizard. It was amazing. Then it was morning and I got dressed and ate and got into the car.

In the midst of all this creating and writing, Noah has finished his math book for the year and is playing on Quarter Mile Math on the computer to help memorize his addition and subtraction facts.

Natalie is learning long division. Which means I am teaching her long division, which I loathe. Fortunately, she picked up on it very quickly. She has also started Writing Strands 3 and is enjoying it.

Jonathan is plugging away at learning to read. He can now read all one-vowel words and about 10 sight words. He is learning to sound out two-vowel words and chomping at the bit to “just be able to read!”. He’s almost finished with his math also.

Add to that all the read-aloud time in the evening and finishing up our history for the year. We are heading into that last stretch before summer break, and it is nice to see things being finished up and lots of time for the kids to be outside. It has been around 70 degrees and gorgeous for the past few days and the weatherman says it will stay that way all week. Great for our T-ball games!

Anyone else want to share what you’ve been working on lately?

Randi is having another “Get Real Monday.” This month’s topic is “what do you do to relax and re-energize.”

I don’t have any pictures to post, and I’m sure anyone who’s read my blog very long already knows the answer to that! I read. I also crochet and play the piano and watch TV, but mostly I just read. And read. And read. And write and read some more.

How about you? What do you do to refresh, revive, and rejuvenate?

Yep, another meme. In this one, the most popular book to movie adaptations are listed. B indicates I’ve read the book, M indicates I’ve seen the movie. I’ll also add in parentheses which one I liked best. Feel free to play along at your site. Let me know if you do!

1. 1984
2. B,M - Alice in Wonderland (movie)
3. American Psycho
4. M - Breakfast at Tiffany’s (didn’t care for it, haven’t read the book)
5. Brighton Rock
6. Catch 22
7. B,M - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (didn’t like the book or either of the movies)
8. A Clockwork Orange
9. Close Range (includes Brokeback Mountain)
10. The Day of the Triffids
11. M - Different Seasons (includes The Shawshank Redemption) (LOVED the movie)
13. M - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (aka Bladerunner) (it was OK)
14. Doctor Zhivago
15. Empire of the Sun
16. The English Patient
17. Fight Club
18. The French Lieutenant’s Woman
19. M - Get Shorty (it was OK)
20. M - The Godfather (one of Kevin’s favorites)
21. B,M - Goldfinger (movie)
22. M - Goodfellas (another of Kevin’s favorites)
23. Heart of Darkness (aka Apocalypse Now)
24. The Hound of the Baskervilles
25. Jaws
26. M - The Jungle Book (love it)
27. A Kestrel for a Knave
28. M - LA Confidential (didn’t know it came from a book)
29. Les Liaisons Dangereuses
30. Lolita
31. B,M - Lord of the Flies (book)
32. The Maltese Falcon
33. Oliver Twist (does Oliver and Company count?)
34. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
35. Orlando
36. B,M - The Outsiders (both)
37. M - Pride and Prejudice (only the new version, and I loved it)
38. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
39. The Railway Children
40. B - Rebecca
41. M - The Remains of the Day
42. M - Schindler’s Ark (aka Schindler’s List)
43. Sin City
44. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
45. M - The Talented Mr Ripley
46. Tess of the D’Urbervilles
47. Through a Glass Darkly_
48. B,M - To Kill a Mockingbird (loved both)
49. Trainspotting
50. The Vanishing
51. B - Watership Down

I finished Magdalene by Angela Elwell Hunt today. As I read the last chapter, Josiah crawled up on my lap and touched my face and said, “Mommy, why are you crying?” and then gave me a hug, which made me cry even harder. You’ll have to read the book to know why my son hugging me would have that effect.

The author has done an incredible job of putting the reader in the Holy Land at the time of Jesus. She must have done tremendous amounts of research to have been able to incorporate so many details about their customs and daily life.

We don’t know much about Mary Magdalene. According to the Bible, she had seven demons cast out of her and was among the women who traveled with Jesus. Ms. Hunt has taken what the Bible tells us and has expanded it into an engrossing story of a woman who is human and who we can relate with.

But this book is more than just a biblically-themed novel. It graphically illustrates the cost of carrying bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts. It shows that we, as believers, still have a choice to make every day: obedience or defiance. As I read about Myriam dealing with the consequences of her choices, I was reminded of the choices I make every day and how they effect not only me but everyone I touch. This book is a must-read.