Prayer of the Week- THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Dear Lord,

Thank you for such sunny, brisk day. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my family.

I read the story of the good Samaritan today to my daughter. Thank you for sharing that story with us. It is very important to remember to always be kind to those who need our help. Help me to remember to help those I see in need. Be with me and show me what I can do for those people; it could be something like a hug or it could be leading them to you.

Thank you for always being there for me. I will remember to pass it on and be there for those who are in need.

In You name I pray, Amen.

Check out Christian Carnival ii

The Christian Carnival ii has been posted for a couple of days and I hope everybody has been enjoying reading the thought provoking posts. I know I am looking forward to reading more of them when I have the time. Please remember to leave comments if when you find something that is really interesting as I am sure the writers would enjoy hearing your opinions. Remember to check out the Christian Carnival ii

Brownies #2

½ cup margarine
1-cup sugar
1 can Hershey’s syrup
4 eggs
1-cup flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup nutmeat

Cream sugar and margarine and add eggs one at a time. Add chocolate syrup and dry ingredients. Bake at 375° in a greased and floured 11x17 pan for 20-25 minutes.
Frosting:
6 tablespoons margarine
6 tablespoons milk
1 ½ cups sugar
Stir and let come to a full rolling boil. Boil 30 seconds. Add ½ cup chocolate chips and beat until all are melted. Add one-teaspoon vanilla. Let cool.

The Disappearing Stranger by Lois Walfrid Johnson

Book one the Adventure of the Northwoods series, The Disappearing Stranger, was copyrighted by Lois Walfrid Johnson in 1990. Bethany House Publishers published it. This Christian mystery has 142 pages and is for kids ages 8-12.

Kate’s mama marries Mr. Nordstrom in 1906 and they go to his home in Wisconsin. His son, Anders, and Kate solve the mystery of the strange man and the box. When Kate first moves to Wisconsin she does not get along well with Anders. Kate comes across a man burying a box. She enlists the help of Anders to get the box and then solve the mystery when the box goes missing. When they come across a syrup pail in their well they know something is going on. They decide to stay up all night to watch to see if somebody takes the pail from its new spot. The stranger comes and Kate sneaks into his wagon. Anders comes to her rescue the next day with the help of Big Gust. They catch the thief, Mr. Eberly a traveling salesman. Kate and Anders receive an award, which enables both of them to get what they really want, Kate and organ and Anders a horse. Kate realizes that after being chased by a bull, being lost in the woods and strong winds that God is always with her. She just needs accept him, like she needs enjoy acceptance into her new blended family.

Lois Walfrid Johnson is a well-known author who has won a Gold Medallion award and her teen devotionals are bestsellers. Her setting is historically accurate as is the addition of Big Gust. At the end of the book Mrs. Johnson acknowledges the people who helped her with her book.

I, like Kate, need to make Psalm 46 my mantra. We need to all open our hearts to God and he will be there always. He is our refuge.

I liked how Mr. Nordstrom slowly made friends with Kate. I also liked how Kate realized that God is there for her. I did not like how Kate listened to Sarah and made negative assumptions about Wisconsin.

I would recommend this paperback book, because we all need to know that God is always there for us.

Good News to Tell by Florence Taylor

Good News to Tell was written by Florence Taylor and illustrated by John Lear. It was printed by Westminster Press and was published in 1959. It is an easy reader and has 50 pages.

This story is about Mark, who wrote one of the books of the Bible. This is from his viewpoint of when he was a child to when he was a young adult. It also has a chapter about when he was starting to write his book about Jesus.

The important people in Mark’s life were Peter, John, Stephen, Paul and Barnabus. Learning about the important people in Mark’s life and the way he felt about them was a great way to experience his encounters with these people.

There are poems and verses on the inside covers. The verses to think and learn are John 13:35, 1 John 4:7 and 3:2, Philippians 2:13.

The illustrations have been realistically drawn. The pictures are done in dark and bright colors and also in black and white. The people that have been drawn are people that I would have enjoyed learning about God from.

This book is good for younger children if it is read in chapters and not all at once. The first time it is read it should be with an adult if there are any questions.

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers: Homeschool Showcase #18

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers: Homeschool Showcase #18

Prayer of the Week- THE LOVE YOU GIVE ME

Dear Lord,


Thank you for this day and the love you give me. I feel it from the top of my head down to the tips of my toes.



Sometimes I feel lost and lonely when you do not answer my prayers. I know, though that you have your reasons for doing what you do. Please help me to remember that. I want to always feel this love and never feel abandoned. Help me to remember in my deepest heart that you are always there and I will never be abandoned.



In Jesus's name, Amen

Royal Strawberry Shortcake

1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons shortening
1 egg
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ pint heavy cream
1 quart strawberries

Cream shortening and sugar and add beaten egg. Add part of the flour, baking powder and salt. Add part of the milk, remainder of flour and then the rest of the milk and vanilla. Bake in shallow greased pan for 20-30 minutes at 375°. When cooled split in half add cream and berries for layers.

JUST BOOKS: SATURDAY REVIEW

JUST BOOKS: SATURDAY REVIEW

The Mystery of the Mexican Graveyard by John Bibee

The Mystery of the Mexican Graveyard, part of the Home School Detectives series, written by John Bibee was copyrighted in 1995 and is 115 pages long. This Christian fiction mystery was published by InterVarstity Press and is for boys and girls 8-12.

Carlos and his family from Springdale are a mission trip to Santiago Mexico. Carlos becomes friends with a boy named Miguel and they try to solve the mystery of the ghost and why Pastor Pablo and others get sick after a party. They discover the ghost is really Roberto. Cocaine is the cause of the illness, which leads them to Senora Garza. To learn who the ghost is they look for footprints outside the orphanage and in the cemetery. Roberto joins them a lot during their expeditions. Carlos is able to trick him into sneaking the ghost costume to Senora Garza’s store. Carlos and Miguel follow Senora Garza and Roberto to a small village where it is discovered that piñatas are being stuffed with cocaine. When Carlos and Miguel are captured they are set free by Flaco, who has been blamed for many of the things Roberto did. The Federales come and Senora Garza and the other people are taken away. All the people in this story learn that boasting and greed are two sins God thinks are foolish.

At this printing John Bibee lived in Austin, Texas and is the author of the Spirit Flyer Series. I thought this book was excellent with its clearly defined characters and plot line.

This story shows us that Senora Garza’s greediness and Carlos boasting about what he knew about her did not pay. We need to remember that those traits will not lead us to a God filled life.

I liked how Carlos was always looking for a scientific answer to the ghost problem. It did not like how the author portrayed Roberto, a child so greedy and in cahoots with drug dealers, when all he wanted was someone to love and care for him.

I would recommend this book, because we can always use a reminder of what greediness and boasting can get us. This small paperback book had a font size that was perfect and even has an excerpt from the next book, The Mystery of the Campus Cook.

The Story of Jesus by Jane Werner Watson

Little Golden Book’s The Story of Jesus was written by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by Jerry Smath. It is 22 pages long and was copyrighted in 2002. The Story of Jesus is an easy reader.
This book tells the story of Jesus from birth to death in a positive way for children. The book mentions the highlights of Jesus’ life such as when Jesus went into the wilderness and feeding the crowd of 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and 2 small fish.
I really like how the author tells the people who read the book that it is more important to follow God’s wishes than it is to worry about being wealthy. That is very important for today’s society, where much of what is seen on television is glitz and glamour. I wish it had mentioned the disciples.
The illustrations were realistically drawn and there were many things in the pictures that could be talked about. I thought the drawings of the buildings were good to show children what the architecture was like in those days. The pictures of the flowers were well done and the people who were listening to Jesus were very happy and thoughtful.
My 4-year-old really enjoyed this story. His favorite part of the story was when it talks about Jesus’ death, because he knows that Jesus died for our sins. My two-year-old did not want to listen to the story, even though it was her book.

Prayer of the Week- Those in Need

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the wonderful sunny day you gave us.
Tonight I would like to pray for those in need.
Please help and heal those who have been displaced by the Australian bush fires. I also praise you for protecting many in those fires.
On this day be with those whose marriages have strayed from you. Please help those husbands and wives focus on you to help their marriages.
All over the world businesses are having financial difficulties and as a result many people are losing their jobs. Please help those people find new jobs in financially strong Christian companies. The strength of our future is in the younger generation. There are many colleges that have Christian organizations. Please be with them as they disciple to unbelievers at dances, forums and on the street.
With you we can be all we have wanted to be and more. Thank you for continuing to nudge our hearts in the right direction when we have needed it.
In your name we pray, amen.

"Carnival of the Recipes"

I hope everybody enjoys these recipes. I need to go fix something to eat now, I am so hungry after looking at all of these good recipes.

Jewish style noodle kugel
Green chile stuffed chicken breasts
Chicken stew- Mexian style
Chicken Biryani
Bourbon Street chicken
Arizona Carnitas with green chiles
24-hour slaw
Mallow sweet potatoes

Batya is having problems with her coffeemaker, could it be suffering from hardening of the arteries?

Rob presents video clips of many different recipes, don't watch these on an empty stomach.

Vegbox recipes shines the spotlight on Jerusalem Artichoke, because it's not from Jerusalem, and it's not an artichoke. Recipes included for making tasty use of this mysterious vegetable, currently in season in the Northern Hemisphere. Maybe this time next year, the Obama family will be harvesting their own crop from the White House Organic Farm.

Brownies

Nature Moms Blog sends us a delicious recipe for raw vegan chocolate brownies.

Katrina from the Diabetes blog temps us with delicious brownies for Diabetics or anyone to enjoy.

Traditional Dinners

Enjoy making this traditional Czech Christmas dinner from Making this Home.

Soup and Bread

Ali at Gal Foodie shares a warm and fast creamy tomato soup for these cold winter days.

Thei Recipes would like to share a recipe for cornbread.

Blueberry Swirl Dessert

1 cup (10 ounces) frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Mash undrained blueberries and add enough water to make one cup of the mixture. Add sugar and cornstarch with mixture in saucepan. Cook until bubbly. Add the lemon juice and cool.
Combine and beat:
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
2 tablespoons sugar
then add in:
one package prepared dream whip

Layer cream cheese mixture and blueberry mixture in a 9-inch graham cracker crust, then swirl. Refrigerate.

Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny By Jan Karon

Jan Karon copyrighted Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny, in 2000. This Christian fiction book was published by Viking and is 80 pages. It is an easy chapter book to read out loud to children and those who know how to read can read it. This book is for the young and the old.

Lydia Sweeney made Jeremy, a rabbit, and is going to mail him to Candace in America. Jeremy wants to find his new home himself. Lydia sees Jeremy off and gives him a slip of paper with the address on it and tells him Psalm 91. On journey through England Jeremy meets Mr. Pruneholt, who shows him on a globe where the shipping docks are. When Jeremy lands in America he meets and older lady and gentleman and they rescue some bunnies. He finally makes it after Pastor Greer saves him from a fox. Jeremy is there just in time, because Candace will be there soon. Jeremy has decided the angels from Psalm 91 were there with him on his entire journey and he was protected.

Jan Karon wrote this book for her daughter and clearly carries us without confusion. She has also written the adult Mitford series. Terry Weidner has illustrated several other books for young readers. The illustrations were most enjoyable. Jeremy was unbelievably drawn with his pants, shoes and jacket and everything was so realistic.

This book reminds us that God has given us angels to help keep us safe and that is what I liked most about it. There was absolutely nothing I disliked in this book. When I know children old enough for this book I will buy it for them.

I would certainly recommend this book with its nice white pages and dark print. It would be a fun book to read with the family and then talk about Psalm 91 and what Pastor Greer said about being bought for a price and going to live in a heavenly home.

My Stories about Jesus by Sarah Fletcher

My Stories about Jesus is by Sarah Fletcher and illustrated by Don Kueker. It was published in 1974 by Concordia Publishing House and is 31 pages long. It is an easy reader.
This is a book that the story of Jesus’ life. It includes many of the important times of Jesus’ life including his death and rising to heaven. This book has pictures on the left side of the page with about half a page of text on the right side. It also includes a small Bible verse at the bottom of the pages, which pertains to the message on the page. Each picture and page of text tells a different story.
The text has been written in a ways that is fun for children to read. It also includes story about children and how much Jesus loved them. That story was my favorite one. It is important to show how Jesus loved everyone and had time for all.
The illustrations were well drawn. The pictures of the children were happy and had full cheeks as many children do. The drawings of the adults looked more realistic than in other picture books.
This book would be good for young children if one story was read per sitting. It would be fine to read the entire book to older children at one time.

Prayer of the Week

Dear Lord,
Thank you for this day. The weather has certainly been wonderful and you were speaking through the pastor today.

When it is time to read the Bible remind me that your words need not always make sense to me or come out the way I want them to. I will study the word again and again if I must until I understand them and they help me. Also help me remember not to be prideful or arrogant about my understanding.

Thank you for your love and forgiveness. In your name, Amen

Mirowave Peanut Brittle

1 cup white sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
Stir these together in a microwave bowl for 4 minutes on high.
Add:
1 cup raw peanuts
Cook on high for 4 minutes
Add:
1 tablespoon margarine
1 tablespoon vanilla
Cook for one minute
Add:
1 teaspoon soda
Beat until it changes color. Coat a knife with margarine and spread the mixture in a pan. Cool and serve.

Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

Book one of the Lily Series, Here’s Lily, was written by Nancy Rue and copyrighted in 2000. This Christian fiction book was published by Zonderkidz, is 128 pages and is for girls 8-12.

Lily and her female classmates are taken to a grooming class where the instructor chooses Lily to go to modeling classes. Lily and her modeling class as their final assignment do a show and it is then that Lily is truly confident. Lily really enjoys the classes, which stems from the praise Kathleen, the modeling instructor, gives her. Her parents tell her that to be able to join a modeling agency she will need to figure out how this is contributing to God. She works hard to be the best she can be and to prove to Shad that she is better than he says she is. Lily decides to start a club with three other girls to teach them what she has learned. When Lily and her dad are burned in a small grease fire, it is Kathleen who helps her realize that it is God-confidence that will help her be first in the model show. Lily does not want to do it with a burned face, but her mom and dad say go for it. Lily does do it and is a success. Her parents are even going to let her join the agency if she would like to. Lily and her friends learn with the God-confidence they are not bothered by the bullies, like Shad, anymore.

Nancy Rue loved Nancy Drew when she was younger and reads the Bible every day. In 1995 her English major began to pay off, as she was able to freelance full-time. She lives on a lake with her husband and two dogs.

The theme in this book is that of "God-confidence". "God-confidence" means confidence in God and in the special gifts and qualities that he has given us. This book shows us that everyone, including me; need to reach into ourselves to find our "God-confidence".

I liked how everybody’s name was short so it was easy to remember him or her. The best character was Kathleen and how she helped each person bring out their best. I did not like how Lily’s brother, Art, calls girls, “chicks”.

I would recommend this book to others, to encourage other to improve their confidence. There are a lot of extras in this book, like a list of many of the Lily books and their companion non-fiction books and an excerpt from the next book, Lily Robbins, M.D. Don’t forget to look for the butterflies on the pages.

What some people will do for attention.

I was just reading a favorite blog of mine, Walking Therein, and I just had to share these disturbing pictures of a representation of President Obama with you. In these pictures "President Obama" is riding a donkey into Des Moines Iowa and people are treating him as the Messiah. Please check out the website for more details and don't just run with what I say. Thank you.

Zachary's Zoo by Mike and Amy Nappa

Zachary’s Zoo by Mike and Amy Nappa and illustrated by Lyn Boyer has 32 pages and is published by Nappaland Communications.

This book is about a young boy named Zachary who needs to care for his pets. He cares for them as he pretends to be a zookeeper to a dog, cat and other animals.

At the very beginning of the book there is a Bible verse from Colossians 3:23 which talks about working from the heart as if it were for the Lord. This verse really sets the tone for the story. This story along with the verse shows children how to be good stewards of what God has given them.


Children who like animals will enjoy how the illustrations mix the inside of a house with the ecosystem of each animal. This is an I Can Read Beginning 1 reading book and is a favorite of my 4-year-old son.