Sweeter Than Birdsong A Review

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Sweeter Than Birdsong

 In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance—and use it to mask her flight.

Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

MY THOUGHTS~This is the second book in The Saddler Legacy series, and it is just as wonderful as the first. Rosslyn has a way with writing that some do not have. She truly has a gift! If you have read the first book, Fairer Than Morning then you do not want to miss this one.

Sweeter Than Birdsong, Saddler's Legacy Series #2 By Rosslyn Elliott / Thomas Nelson When Ben casts lovely Kate Winter to sing in his latest show, they find they share a love for music and ideas. But Kate's mother wants her daughter to marry a rich man. Ben has given his life to God, not to the pursuit of wealth. Kate Winter will be the first female graduate of Otterbein College, and every young man in town courts her. But Kate's dark family secrets leave her unspeakably shy. When Kate joins the Hanbys in their dangerous work on the Underground Railroad, she finds her courage and her voice. Can Ben and Kate find a way to be together in spite of the obstacle of Kate's family?

Mornings With Jesus

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ABOUT THE BOOK ~
"Be still and know that I am God.” is one of the most beautiful verses from the Bible, but it’s not easy to practice in this busy world. Mornings with Jesus will help you do just that—“be still” in Jesus’ beautiful and powerful presence. For those who are seeking a deeper experience in their relationship with Christ, Mornings with Jesus offers a fresh perspective of who Jesus is (the Healer, the Son of God, the Comforter, the Good Shepherd) and what that means for day-to-day life. With a warm and friendly voice, 365 short devotional writings on the character and teachings of Jesus encourage readers to greet each day by drawing near to Him and inviting His presence into their day. Spend time with Jesus at the beginning of each day and experience His nearness and peace in a new way throughout the year. Each day’s selection includes: • a Bible verse • an entry based on Jesus: His words, miracles, and parables; His wisdom, compassion, and comfort; His mystery, power, divinity, and humanity • a “faith step” that will inspire and challenge readers to apply the day’s message to their lives.

MY THOUGHTS ~
This is a year long devotional. Each devotion is a short little nugget that easily goes along with your daily reading. I liked this since I'm a busy mom and don't have a lot of time to spend with long devotionals.



BUY THE BOOK ~

You can find the book HERE.




**I received this book for free from Litfuse in return for my honest opinion.**

Mornings With Jesus - eBook By Holley Gerth; Judy Baer / Guideposts Experience a closer relationship with your Savior. Each page of Mornings with Jesus 2014 begins with a Scripture quote, followed by an uplifting devotion that demonstrates how Jesus' life and teachings apply today. With humor, humility and grace, the writers share insights and reflections that you can relate to. You'll also find Faith Steps that you can practice throughout your day, to help you carry the words of Jesus with you and make them real in your life. When you read Jesus' words and think about His lessons and miracles, you'll feel your relationship with your Savior grow richer and deeper. You'll find more strength, courage, joy and peace to meet the challenges of each day. Read reflections from our thoughtful writers. Mornings with Jesus 2014 is written by a group of ten talented women including award-winning Sharon Hinck, prolific author Erin Keeley Marshall, Christian novelist Grace Fox, bestselling novelist Tricia Goyer, and popular writer Gwen Ford Faulkenberry. Each daily devotion includes: Uplifting reflections written by our team of thoughtful writers A featured Scripture of the day highlighting a particular attribute, quote or teaching of Jesus Enjoyable faith steps to help you apply what you read

Laundry Soap Update

I wanted to write a quick update on my laundry soap.

I received an email about a post that I wrote reviewing Downy Stopables.

"I am getting ready to make homemade laundry soap and I love the Downy Unstopables, but  they are pricy, I was wondering if you have tried pouring the Unstopables in your soap as the scent?"

Here's my answer ~ The Unstopables are expensive. I searched the isle to see if there was another brand of scent booster that I could use and came across Purex Crystals which were three dollars cheaper for a larger container than the Unstopables. It was easier for me to swallow $5.00 on an experiment that I did not know how it was going to turn out, so I bought the Purex and made a batch of soap...

 You can find my original soap post HERE with updates HERE, HERE and HERE.

I've been using this batch of soap for about a month. In this batch I only used one cup of the Purex Crystals, the next time I make it I'll be adding another half cup maybe even a whole cup. Since I only use Fels Naptha in making my soap, the lemon scent is a little stronger than the Crystals, so it boils down to ~ MORE SCENT? - MORE CRYSTALS! For the Unstopables ~ I would probably go with the one and a half cups, just to be happy!

I put the crystals in the pot of soapy water to dissolve, after the soap has completely melted.

I personally like my soap without the scent and will definitely finish up the bottle of crystals on our towels and wash cloths. I like knowing that our clothes are clean without having a strong, artificial scent. That is what I like about the Fels Naptha. I don't have to worry about a lingering smell ~ everything comes out with a clean smell, nothing more.  I have a fear of scents in our clothes. Have you ever smelled someone who wears a scented deodorant? That smell clings to the fibers in clothing. Sometimes it is so bad that after a while it begins to leave a funky scent ~ a scent that smells "unclean" even after it is washed. Don't believe me?... iron the underarms of a shirt and give it a whiff. That weird underarm scent is from all the scented deodorant, even when the shirt is clean. Do you really want the smell lurking about when you are warm and stressed and under pressure?  I don't know about you, but I don't. You have probably guessed, I wear an unscented deodorant. ;)

I also wanted to mention that I've cut back on the TSP. In fact, I don't put it in the soap any longer. I use about teaspoon in the washer for very dirty jeans and work clothes. My husband noticed irritation around his neck and where his sleeves hit on his arms and thought it maybe from the TSP. I'm thinking that it may not have dissolved completely and settled at the bottom of the bucket, since it was in the last of the soap when we started seeing the irritation.

Hopefully, this helps anyone who is thinking about homemade laundry soap.

A Little Frogging

 In my life this week…

Last Saturday, I spent a good amount of time knitting only to see that I added an extra row in on the border of a toddler's sweater. The only catch to this is... That extra row is at the beginning of the front left panel. I did not find this until I had finished it and started the ride side. I'm hoping when I finish the right panel, I can undo the cast-on and simply frog one row. If not, I'll be frogging the whole panel and starting over.



In our homeschool this week…

I have found that if I give my son the Kindle, paper and pencil he can become quite creative with his research paper on David Livingstone. I did this a couple of times this week since I had a sewing project to complete and get in the mail. I was amazed at how he could be so detailed in his words when I wasn't around.  (My son is reluctant writer.)

I've started the task of planning for our 2012-2013 school year. It seems like every year I change something in our curriculum. I've been looking at the Heart of Dakota curriculum along with My Father's World. Since this girl is a budget conscience girl, I cringe when I see the "whole package" price. I'd definitely have to pick and choose to keep costs down.  I'd love to find something that had a full Language Arts/History/Geography/Science program all wrapped in a neat little box without having to buy  a zillion books. Maybe I need to look at unit studies?

My favorite thing this week was…

Just being at home, making our house a home for my family. Spending these precious moments with my son because I know that in a few short years I won't have them any longer.

Questions/thoughts I have…

There's only 59 more days of school on our calendar. I'm thinking this eight weeks on /one week off is a HUGE help. It has really helped in keeping the burn out from happening too quickly. So far so good, it hasn't reared its ugly head.

Things I’m working on…

I have several projects that I'm working on for my shop. Several primitive ideas in the works along with the idea of selling Kindle covers.

I’m grateful for…

My Salvation, without it I would be nothing.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

This is the Kindle Fire cover I made for a friend this week. I love how it turned out!

My Kindle Cover

Yesterday, when I wrote about sewing my Kindle cover, I did not expect any questions or comments on it. What a surprise for me when I opened the comment notice in my email.

This is the inside of the cover. When I sewed this, I kept thinking that there was a lot of extra room in the tabs. So I did what any good seamstress would do ~ I got my scissors and I began cutting. Actually, the space would have been taken up when I sewed all the pieces together and finished with the top stitching. This flower fabric, is something that I have a ton of  and I totally love it! It's so hip! yeah, right...

 As you can see in the picture above, the Kindle sits very snug in the tabs. I really like this, since I have a fear of it falling out. Now that I have this and am using it, I think the next one I make will not have the extra flap. That flap was suppose to be the home of a pocket, but since I cut the cover to where it would close snug, I left the pocket off. Since I whipped this up rather quickly, I used round velcro since that is what I pulled out of the basket first.

 In the last picture, you can see when it is closed that my cutting was not completely straight, but I was flying blind on this project. I love denim! It's one of my favorite fabrics to sew with and I'm a denim kind of girl. Nothing fancy schmancy for me. I finished it off with a pink button that goes with my contrast fabric.

As for selling these in my shop... I'm still thinking about it. With a little arm twisting, I might could be persuaded into listing a few.  If you are seriously interested in one, let me know and I'll be happy to come up with something for you.

Two Days of Interruption

In my life this week…

 I had to deal with our internet company after our county accidentally bush hogged our wiring that was suppose to be buried 8 months ago.  I learned rather quickly, that many of the people that answer the phones as a customer service representative need to have an IQ test, before being given a cubicle and a headset.  Let's just say after dealing with five people, and a stern lecture by my husband to the supervisor, our wiring was repaired this morning at 8:30 after spending two days with no internet.



In our homeschool this week…

I did something that I said I would never do at this stage in our schooling. I turned my son loose with his books and an assignment sheet and told him what I expected to be finished, so I could work on some sewing and knitting for my shop. This actually worked except for the lagging around in Math, since it is the dreaded subject. He came to me several times saying, "Momma, did you know...?"  Science was about snakes and lizards in this lesson and he was actually interested in the snakes ~ after I sticky noted all the pictures. Yep, he is terrified of snakes!

My favorite thing this week was…

The spring like weather we are having. It's amazing!

Things I’m working on…
 
I sewed a cover for my Kindle Fire. I bought a pattern for e-readers and had to adapt the pattern to actually fit the reader. It was huge, so I cut it down a little and it fit perfectly. I'm thinking about adding a couple of my SHOP to see how they sell. ~Who knows?!

I’m reading…
 
Well, I haven't started them, but this morning I downloaded all the Five Little Peppers books by Margaret Sidney at Amazon.  I even snagged Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott for *FREE*

I’m cooking…

It's Friday ~  we eat out every other Friday and today's that day!

I’m praying for…

 An opportunity that is going to be opening up at the end of the year. My husband is the first in line for it. We are seriously praying about taking this huge step.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

There are more journals found at the Homeschool Chick.

Gentleness - A Soft Answer

This past week I have learned something while working on being more GENTLE.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

This past week I have learned something while working on being more GENTLE. I learned my son actually listens when I'm not talking in an elevated voice with my hands and arms pointing and moving around. He didn't put up that wall of defense and tune me out. I also learned that no matter what, if my son is not taught how to do something, he is more than likely not going to do it. How could I expect him to sit down at a piano and play something, if he has never been taught? This is the same thing with obedience; our children have to be taught to obey.

We all have a sin nature; no one has to be taught to sin. But we do have to be taught how and when to obey. If we expect our children to obey immediately ~ we have to train them. Think for just a minute ~ The last time you were asked to do something, did you do it? Did you do it immediately? What's the difference in us and our children? There is none. If we expect our children to obey immediately, then we must be willing to PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH. We can't have it both ways.

We can stand over our children with a belt or a paddle and scream at the top of our lungs to get them to do something. But is this really working? Think about it... We are teaching our children to obey only when they are being screamed at. We are not keeping our cool so we can use a situation to help guide them into obedience. We are also teaching them to be a screamer. What? Yes, we are. We are teaching them that it is alright to scream at others to get their point across. We are also planting bitterness into their tender hearts. This bitterness is going to be a huge mess when it is full blown and it is not going to hurt just them, but everyone around them.

 How can we teach our children about God and His wonderful love, when all they hear coming from our mouth is hateful sin?  We need to remember the saying, "Like parent, like child." Our daily walk is what our children are learning from us. Are they seeing the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives?

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

A Little Fun and a Pickle

In my life this week…

I was a recluse this week as of Tuesday morning.  Since my husband is off on Monday and works on Saturday, we tend to spend Monday doing the things that we would normally do on a Saturday, like grocery shopping and other errands. Since our Mondays are our Saturdays; we have school Tuesday - Saturday. When Tuesday morning came, my school week began and I have not left the house for anything and it actually feels good.




In our homeschool this week…

We've been studying about the Civil War in our History. The Civil War is one of my favorite subjects to study and it is extremely interesting if it is presented in a way for the eyes of a 12 year old to be opened. For this chapter in our book from Abeka, I wanted to think outside the box. So I took the chapter and began searching for helpful and exciting things to do according to what we would be reading. I actually found quite a few helpful ideas and videos. I have them pinned in my Homeschool Pinterest board.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

If something is not working, be diligent in finding another method. Don't feel the need to keep using that something. The internet is loaded with tons of ideas and helps.

My favorite thing this week was…

The funny moments that this momma and her son share during the week. The funniest would have to be when I asked my son this question ~"What can you learn from the life of Abraham Lincoln?" His response,"To never run for president, so I won't be assassinated." Of course that was not the answer I was looking for, but boy, did it have me laughing.

Questions/thoughts I have…

I can't believe that it is already the middle of January. I need to start my planning for the new school year in the fall. I told myself last summer, that I was not going to wait until the summer to start ordering books. So hopefully, I'll have my lists ready to begin in February. ~ Hopefully!

Things I’m working on…

I'm still working on the infamous afghan. I thought that I would be finished with it for Christmas. But as I began laying out all the squares, I realized that I needed about thirty more. This is no small afghan, it has to meet my husband's length.  Hopefully, I can have them knitted up within the next few months. I'm beginning to wonder if I need to call the a bedspread/blanket instead of afghan because of it's size...

I’m reading…

I have several books going at the moment. Something that I'm not usually known to do. But I have allowed myself to get in a pickle with several book reviews that I unknowingly realized I caused. I think this is a perfect place where I need to learn to say ~ Not this time.


A photo, video, link, or quote to share…