1 hour ago
(Affiliate link below.)
I was so excited that I got the chance to read Karen Kingsbury's new novel before it comes out in June! Many years ago I got sucked into the world of the Baxters through Kingsbury's books, and it's been exciting to see her writing more books about them again.
In Love Story, we finally learn the full story of John and Elizabeth Baxter, how they met and fell in love, and how Elizabeth was sent away to have their first baby out of wedlock, forced to give the baby up for adoption. That sounds terribly sad if you haven't already read the rest of the Baxter Family books and know how it all worked out, so I wouldn't recommend reading this book at all unless you've read the rest of the books in those series. A lot of the characters and stories in this book won't make sense or mean as much if you don't already have the backstory from the other books.
I also liked how Kingsbury gave us updates on Bailey's marriage and Cody's life through this book. Bailey and Cody were some of my favorite characters from her series, and it was fun to see how things are working out for them.
The only thing I haven't loved about Kingsbury's books in the past is how she will have God "speak" to her characters. At times she has even said that the characters heard God's voice audibly, and I have had concerns with whether she is giving the correct impression of how a Christian can expect to hear from God. I'd hate to have a Christian who was younger in their faith feel like they must be missing some way that God is speaking to them, instead of realizing that God speaks to us through His word, the Bible. There were a couple instances in this book, but I do appreciate how she almost always has God "speak" something that comes from a Bible verse at least. Thankfully I find that Kingsbury has been toning down that aspect of her stories in her more recent books, which has let me enjoy them even more.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and finished most of it in one sitting on a Sunday afternoon. Kingsbury's writing is done in a way that keeps you reading, and I'm a sucker for a happy ending. If you have read any of the Baxter books in the past, I definitely recommend catching up with the Baxters and Flannigans with this book!
Note: I received a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
(Affiliate link below.)
I didn't really make New Year's resolutions this year, but I mentioned before that an unofficial "goal" for me is to read more about the Cold War. The Cold War was kind of a big deal, and it's pretty amazing when you think about that we fought an entire war without any official shots being fired back and forth. Like many millennials though, I didn't understand it that well, so this is the year I chose to remedy that.
Deep Undercover is the story of Jack Barsky, a former KGB spy turned proud American citizen and Christian. I loved this book! Barsky's story is written as narrative non-fiction, so it reads more like a novel, and it is fascinating. This book gave me a really good idea of what it was like in East Germany in the post-World-War-II era, and how many East Germans thought their communist government was anti-Nazi, and the answer to the world's problems. Even though Barsky doesn't realize until much later the atrocities that have been committed by communist regimes, it was fascinating to get a glimpse into how this ideology was explained to those who had to live under it, and how the American way of life was demonized and the truth hidden under government propaganda.
Barsky is eventually recruited by the KGB, and the stories of his "spy training" were so interesting. I think we have this glamorized view of spies in our culture, but this book made me see that a lot of these spies are just normal people, and their tasks are rather mundane. Dangerous, but not necessarily glamorous. It was so interesting. The way he ended up defecting from the KGB was really clever too! I didn't see it coming.
The best part of this book was reading about how Barsky's view of the US (and Christianity) started to change when he actually started living here, how he developed a love of freedom through experiencing it in America and realized how much of that freedom the people in East Germany did not have.
After many personal and family struggles, Barsky ends up hiring an assistant who is a Christian. He researches the Christian faith and eventually comes to know Jesus as His Savior. This was the coolest part of the story to me. Barsky never found out why exactly he was recruited to the KGB, but if he hadn't been recruited, he never would have formed a life in America, and perhaps never would have come to Christ. It was amazing to see God working through his life, even as a KGB spy.
I highly recommend this book. Even if you aren't particularly interested in the Cold War, this book was an absolutely fascinating read! I couldn't find a big enough chunk of time to finish it in one sitting, but I was sorry every time I had to put it down!
Note: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
We are expecting an addition to our family! Baby #5 calculated to arrive in November!
Details coming next week!
All About Antique Malls And My Love For Them
Just in case you don't have an antique mall near you (which I'm sure you do, they are all over), a bunch of antique dealers can rent space in the mall to sell you their finds. Because of the range of sellers, you could literally find anything in an antique mall. You can never know what to expect, what you may find, or how much you may spend.
The very first time I ever entered an antique mall was with my grandma when I was perhaps eight years old. My grandma used to take each of her grandkids out for their birthday and buy them whatever they wanted for a gift, followed by a sleepover at her house. It was a great tradition, and one that my mom continues with her grandkids today.
This particular year, I wanted to find more Bobbsey Twins books. This was a great old series about four siblings, two sets of boy/girl twins, and their adventures. I had a couple of the books, but the additional titles listed in the back cover always intrigued me. With titles like "Bobbsey Twins On Blueberry Island" and "Bobbsey Twins In Tulip Land", my eight-year-old imagination was running wild. I had to read those books!
So my grandma took me to an antique mall to see if we could find any. After browsing for quite a while, I spotted not one, not two Bobbsey Twin books, but the entire series! In my haste to bend down and see the price tag, I failed to notice a broken ceramic washbasin, and sliced open my knee. My grandma whisked me out of the store, applied hydrogen peroxide, and I later got a stitch. I still have a scar.
And I never did get those Bobbsey Twins books.
How I Shop At Antique Stores Now
Still, that whole adventure seemed to attach the invisible thread that would draw me back to antique stores later in life, and when I grew up and went to the mall as a newlywed, I figured out that there are actually a bunch of other interesting things there besides Bobbsey Twins books. This is what I usually look for:
1. Unique teacups. All the china has a certain appeal to me, because they just don't make a lot of these things anymore! But teacups are so dainty, and also practical, so I find myself scanning the shelves for them most. My criteria for teacups is that they must be unusual and speak to me in some way. Even amidst the unique field of teacups, you'd be surprised how often a rose pattern shows up, and then all the rose patterns start to look the same, so I go for the unusual or even odd-looking ones. I'm also a happy camper if I can find one for less than $15. Over $15 is usually more than I'm willing to spend, unless it's something really special.
2. Old books. This cannot be just any old book, because with the advent of Amazon, you can find almost anything online. In order for me to buy it, it must be an unusual title that I know would be hard to find or cost a fortune online, or it must be a good price, or an edition of a classic that has a cool look to it.
3. Records. I keep asking for a record player for my birthday and Christmas, but so far no one has taken the hint! Still, I am convinced I will get one someday, so I keep my eyes peeled for any good old records. Especially if it's an Elvis record.
I definitely recommend going into the store with a few items that you want to hunt for - otherwise it can get overwhelming. The search is what makes it fun!
I definitely recommend going into the store with a few items that you want to hunt for - otherwise it can get overwhelming. The search is what makes it fun!
Antique Store Haul
My mom and sister and I had a lovely time browsing the shelves last Saturday, after my mom treated us to breakfast (thanks Mom!). There is so much in this antique store. We only made it through half the aisles! We decided we'll have to go again in a few months, and I'm already looking forward to it (and trying to remember to hold some money aside, because I always end up buying something).
(Doesn't everyone need a ceramic Robin Hood head?)
(My Beautiful Mama.)
(Haha, my sis. Can she strike a good pose or what?)
(Moi.)
This is what I ended up getting:
-Peach pearlized teacup.
-Delicate mint and pink daisy teacup.
-Green flower teacup.
-A book for my dad (which I won't specify here, in case he's reading).
-A hardcover copy of The Boxcar Children ($3!).
-A Peter, Paul, And Mary record ($2), which I will play someday on my future record player.
-Two pretty handkerchiefs (one from my mom). Why don't people carry hankies anymore? I guess because of the whole disposable tissues thing.
I'm most excited about the teacups and hankies, because they are so pretty. You can expect these to be making appearances when I have to stage photos for the blog. Can you believe I got all three of those teacups for $20? I thought that was a pretty good deal.
It was so fun to spend the morning with my mom and sister and find some treasures!
Have you ever been to an antique mall? What would/do you hunt for in antique shops?
I highly recommend making a trip to your local antique mall, for a few reasons.
1. It's amazing the amount of interesting things that can be packed into one building!
2. You never know what you will find, but you most likely will find something that speaks to you.
3. If you don't find something cool for yourself, teacups and old books make great gifts!
4. It really is a great outing for bonding with family or friends, especially if you go from someone of a different generation than you. It was so fun to hear all my mom's stories, keep an eye out for interesting items to swoon over or chuckle at, and see everyone's tastes! It's one of the best destinations I can think of for quality time, and definitely was a special day with my mom and sister.
1. It's amazing the amount of interesting things that can be packed into one building!
2. You never know what you will find, but you most likely will find something that speaks to you.
3. If you don't find something cool for yourself, teacups and old books make great gifts!
4. It really is a great outing for bonding with family or friends, especially if you go from someone of a different generation than you. It was so fun to hear all my mom's stories, keep an eye out for interesting items to swoon over or chuckle at, and see everyone's tastes! It's one of the best destinations I can think of for quality time, and definitely was a special day with my mom and sister.
Old School Blogger Shoutout
Last week I somehow snuck in quite a bit of blog reading time, and found a few new favorites! This week I thought I'd point you to Rachel at The Random Writings. I feel like Rachel's blog pretty much embodies everything good about the long-ago days of blogging, and she is also a wonderful social blogger who will return your comments. I am loving her blog and looking forward to getting to know her better!
What I'm Drinking: As you may have seen yesterday on Instagram, hot chocolate with Irish cream syrup. But as you are reading this today I am off to the Children's Museum and have probably picked up a white chocolate iced coffee (my on-the-go go-to).
If you are a Christian, read this book!
You might remember that the main goal I have chosen for this year is to reach out to those around me more. So when I say that a book on hospitality was up for review a couple months ago, I requested it immediately.
The Simplest Way To Change The World (affiliate link) discusses biblical hospitality, both in terms of biblical teachings on hospitality and in terms of practical way we can become hospitable people. I got so much out of this book.
What I really liked about this book was the way the authers discussed theological topics relating to hospitality, and alternated those chapters with practical suggestions.
On the theological side, they framed the gospel in terms of hospitality in one chapter, writing about how in Scripture God is a hospitable God, and I found that really interesting. They discussed the truth of the Gospel and what Jesus did in dying to save us, and expressed how that is what motivates us to reach out to those around us with biblical hospitality.
Some of the best chapters were definitely on the practical suggestions though. The authors know that opening your home and lives to those around you is hard in this culture, in which it is more normal to lock yourself behind closed doors to "relax" than to open the doors and invite people in. They gave so many practical and fun suggestions for starting to open your homes to other people. I loved how they encouraged you to incorporate hospitality into the regular rhythms of your life, and how they made it seem easy and desirable to become more hospitable (even while acknowledging the parts that are hard and sharing their own mistakes).
The end of the book includes a group study guide - I think this would make an amazing small group study.
Everything the authors had to say on how hospitality can be the most effective way to reach other people for Christ was spot-on. You don't have to preach from the sidewalk, give a "gospel presentation", travel to foreign countries, or do something "radical" to reach other for the Lord. Through simply being hospitable, we "share our lives" with people and naturally let them see how important Jesus is in our lives through words and actions - and God can use that to stir their hearts to know more.
Highly, highly recommend this book! Easy and enjoyable to read, convicting and motivating!
Note: I received a digital copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
I think this linkup is a bit of an exception to my general linkup dislike because you really can use the word prompt however you want, and the five minute timeline encourages honesty in a good way.
I'm going to join in, but you should know that I wrote for seven minutes, and I did add a few words here and there for clarity. Not exactly following the rules, but this is my blog, so I can do what I want! I might join in when the word is interesting, but if it's a stinker of a word, I will have no problems skipping it. Stay tuned, but for now, here is my first installment.
6:55 PM
It’s funny how one little word can take your mind on a whole new track. Purpose. A word that isn’t just a word, but seems to prompt a question.
"What is my purpose?"
That word and that question seems to come at an interesting time for me, because I have struggled with it. For the last couple years, I have lost sight not of my overall purpose, but my day-to-day purpose to a certain extent. I always have my overall purpose in mind because of the catechism our pastor’s wife taught us when I was a young teenager.
What is the purpose of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
That is always my ultimate purpose, and the purpose of every human being if they are willing to look and find it through what Jesus did for us in dying on the cross. He enables us to live out our purpose, the one that the human race lost in Eden. He got it back for us.
But still, my day-to-day, personal purpose has been wanting. For a while I tried to find it in this blog. Writers all around me seemed to be striving and reaching much bigger things - writing books, earning money, building a ministry.
I tried for a bit too, but it all just came up empty. Like chasing the wind.
This year I’ve been slowing down and realizing that my personal purpose won’t come from “making something of myself”. I think my greatest purpose comes into my room at an ungodly hour every morning, and asks if it’s time for breakfast yet. And I’m learning to stop striving and reaching for something bigger than the four brown-haired-heads slurping Fruit Loops and spilling milk.
I was looking too hard for something different that wasn’t there.
My purpose is sitting right there, at my kitchen table.
7:02 PM
I was not aware until recently that PJ Masks is a new show, but in our house, we are all in. My kids know the theme song. They come up with PJ Masks stories to play out. Even Derek will sit down and watch an episode with them in the evenings and chuckle at it!
Last week was Wyatt's 6th birthday. I cannot believe that my baby is six years old! I still remember that surreal moment when he was born, with his tiny little cry, and the tears that were streaming down my face. This kiddo is something special, and I love him so much.
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