Lit!: Why You Should Read It (Or, Ramblings of a Reading Mother)

This is a combination post. In it I'll be reflecting back on my 2011 reading year and thinking/planning for where it is that I want to go with books in 2012. A great deal of my thoughts, however, are being shaped by the book Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books, by Tony Reinke (which I discussed, in brief, here.)

Over the course of the past two years, in particular, I've really wanted to make a difference in the way I read books. I think this partially has to do with the fact that I'm now the mother of three small children and therefore my reading time is harder to come by and therefore way more valuable to me. (This truth hit home at the end of this year when I glanced back at my books read in 2011 vs. 2010. In 2010 I read 147 books. This year? 86! I'm ok with any number over 40. Less than that and I think I'd be greatly perturbed.)

For starters though, Reinke divides books into two categories:

1. The Bible; and
2. All other books.

He makes his case for why the Bible should be the Most Important Book in your life and the most frequently read. Being a Christian, I agree with all of his points. As a reader, I would have to honestly say that I fail in this area. I don't make the Bible my top priority. I make other books my priority. As a Christian, this should not be so. But it is so. If, as a Christian, I want to read wisely and well then I need to put "all other books" to the side first thing, and start making the Word of God my top priority.

"If we neglect Scripture in order to read only other books, we not only cut ourselves from the divine umbilical cord that feeds our souls, we also cut ourselves from the truth that makes it possible for us to benefit from the truth, goodness, and beauty in the books that we read." (Chapter 7, Read With Resolve, page 94)

Even as I start to make a 2012 reading plan, I am tempted to say, "Well, I'll start reading the Bible in February once things kick off with the bookclub or the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge or this or that." But the "this or that" will not only take over January but it will take over the rest of the year as well, sooo...to start things off correctly, I'm going to start at the beginning. That is? I'm going to go back to Genesis and read it through however many times I can alongside this book (which I had been wanting forever and finally purchased a copy of):



Gleanings In Genesis, by A.W. Pink

I don't want to box myself in with this book, placing a time limit on it. Rather, I just want to read, glean and understand as much as I can. It may take me two months or three or six. I have no idea. A priority needs to be set though and so I'm going to start here - and now.

"Reading can be ultimately a means to eternally benefit our soul. And this benefit does not hinge upon how smart we are, upon how many books we read each year, or upon how much information we retain. We tap into the eternal value of literature when we read in the presence of God, unveiled to the glory of our Savior." (Chapter 2, Wide-Eyed into the Son, page 37)

Another thing that I've been thinking a lot about for the past few years (but haven't delved as deeply into as I would like) is the power and beauty of stories, "Christian" or no. Every year I host the Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge for a variety of reasons:

1. I just love them.
2. I think there is great value in reading them.
3. I think that there is great value in reading them over and over and over again.

Every year the following questions pop up from various people and sources:

1. Why is the Chronicles of Narnia series considered "good" by Christians and yet the Harry Potter series is considered "bad"?
2. What is considered a good use of magic in books and what is considered a bad use?
3. Why do Christians place themselves in reading boxes wherein they can only read the Bible, Elsie Dinsmore and on a wild and wicked day, the Chronicles of Narnia? (Ok, I made that a bit more dramatic but it's not actually that far off base in some quarters!)

The short (and not fully developed) answers to those questions are, for me, as follows:

1. I haven't read Harry Potter yet and so I can't compare.
2. I know that there IS a good use of magic and a bad use in books but I haven't thought out the distinguishing factors for myself just yet.
3. I don't have the foggiest.

I would like to read the Harry Potter series this year and think through some of these questions in a great deal more detail.

"Developing a biblical worldview is labor-intensive, but the result is a discerning mind that is essential if we will benefit from books. If we fail here, we will be flooded with worldviews of other authors and be quickly overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated. On the other hand, firm biblical convictions will make it possible for us to benefit from a broad array of literature by Christians and non-Christians alike." (Chapter 4, Reading from Across the Canyon, page 53)

*****

"God is behind all truth, even the truth that is expressed in non-Christian literature. Truth cannot be fabricated, writes [John] Calvin:

All truth is from God; and consequently, if wicked men have said anything that is true and just, we ought not to reject it; for it has come from God. Besides, all things are of God; and, therefore, why should it not be lawful to dedicate to His glory everything that can properly be employed for such a purpose." (Chapter 5, The Giver's Voice, page 67)

Another problem I face, personally speaking, is spending too much time on the computer. Now, how to solve this one? Janet has discussed the dangers of technology more over at Across the Page and she makes particular arguments about spending time on Facebook which I rather sympathize with. Reading Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books really drove some of the arguments that Janet has been making home to me. I haven't read many books on technology and its effects (sorry, I just can't seem to make myself) but the arguments that Reinke makes in his book about images vs. words and quick bits of information vs. careful, thoughtful sifting of words and information really had an impact on me. I've already significantly decreased my Facebook time. (I think Facebook is a mildly useful tool for keeping in touch with people, but it's heavily overrated. Since most of us are on it "because everyone else is" it might benefit us as a whole if we all agreed to get off!) I don't have the time and space to spell out Reinke's arguments here but I do think that flashing imagines and "soundbites" of information into any variety of people's lives has done me a great disservice when it comes to reading and enjoying books. At the tail end of the 2011 reading year, I was really fighting with myself to sit still and read for a solid hour. (I have roughly 2 hours of reading time available to me a day. But using even one hour was a challenge due to time spent on the computer.) I don't just want to improve that in 2012, I need to.

"But the tension is not simply between the value of words and the value of images. Both language and visual images are valuable. The concern is whether Christians (like us) will be patient enough to find meaning embedded in words, or if we will grow content with the superficial pleasures offered to us in the rapidly shifting images in our culture." (Chapter 3, Reading is Believing, page 43)

*****

"In a world so easily satisfied with images, it's too easy to waste our lives watching mindless television and squandering our free time away with entertainment. We have a higher calling. God has called us to live our lives by faith and not by sight - and this can mean nothing less than committing our lives to the pursuit of language, revelation and books." (Chapter 3, Reading is Believing, page 50)

What this means for Reading to Know, I can't really say just yet. Currently I can keep up a 5-a-week posting "schedule." I can still foresee the ability to do just that because I type faster than I hand write. Some people keep a hand written journal of the books they read. I type mine up and it is, as you read it here, at Reading to Know. Therefore I don't really see my blogger habits changing all that much. I do not post on weekends (and still won't) in part because it helps me to pace myself. The only way I can see my blogging habits changing is if I notice that I'm speed reading just for the sake of posting. So far that hasn't truly been the case but I know when it's happening and so if you start noticing a gap in my posting schedule, you'll just know that I'm forcing myself to read for benefit and not just because I've told myself that I must post something five days a week! (Not that I believe anyone is living with the expectation that they will hear from me five days a week. But people who maintain their own blogs will know exactly what I'm talking about.)

Lastly, a few practical things:

1. I think I'm going to follow this tip as I approach and begin to read any book:

"So how far into a book should a reader go before quitting? This is where the one hundred-pages-minus-your-age rule comes in handy. This rule states that readers should start with one hundred pages and subtract their age. If you are twenty years old, you should give a book eighty pages before quitting. If you're fifty years old, give it fifty pages. The more years, the more reading experience, the less time you need before you can close and shelve a book. And it means that, when you are one hundred, you are free to judge a book by its cover." (Chapter 8, How to Read a Book, page 115)

2. I want to spend time with longer works, with more depth to them. More classics, if you will. I know it will be a challenge for me. I like being able to complete reading challenges for myself and longer books take quite a bit more effort. But I do think it will be worth it.

"When we set out to read important books, we can expect opposition from our hearts. Reading is a discipline, and all disciplines require self-discipline, and self-discipline is the one thing our sinful flesh will resist." (Chapter 9, Literature is Life, page 131)

So, I guess it's safe to say that I am hoping to focus on the area of self-discipline in the area of reading: taking time for good books, reading to figure out my own worldview a little bit better and to make Bible reading my top priority.

In the meantime, I'm (still) grateful to Crossway Books for shooting a copy of Lit! my way as it has had a wee bit of influence in how I intend to read books in the future. This particular title goes on the shelf for a re-read. I rather expect it could stand to be re-read on a yearly basis, to make certain I'm keeping on track in the priorities department!

In (Quick) Summary . . .

Because I mentioned (more than once) that I had this book in my pile to read. . . I just wanted to follow up and say I didn't much care for it on the whole.

Two main reasons:

1. It's dated. (I hope.) Meissner takes the family in the story to Disney World and the kids in the story are watching SpongeBob on tv. While I don't really mind if Disney World is still around in another 20 years, I'm hoping that fewer people will have a clue who SpongeBob is. The main character also uses her GPS which I recognize is not really a big deal for a story. However, at the same time, when I read along and find references to modern restaurant chains, newly released films, or "hip" cartoon shows, I tend to think that the books which mention those things aren't likely going to stand the test of time. A modern audience might enjoy it for a brief window in time, but the book's lifespan is likely to be short.

2. The book involves a ghost story, of sorts. Again, the subject matter didn't bother me so much until the main character has lunch with a spiritual medium trying to gather information on the supposed ghost. At that point I'd pretty much had enough. It wasn't a spooky-scary story. I just didn't care for how much attention the subject received. I can't even say that Meissner did or did not resolve it well because I didn't complete the read.

I read about half of the book before I skipped to the last chapter and contented myself with finding out how a few things resolved. (I think they resolve well.)

Basically, this book just did not work well with me and so I didn't read it through in its entirety. I also am not quite comfortable recommending it and so I felt like I should follow up and share my brief thoughts since I mentioned it a time or two. For me, this one is a definite "pass!"

(I'm not titling the book in this post or linking to it because I don't feel I ought to in this case. I did feel as though I ought to share my thoughts on it though because I mentioned a.) that I was planning to read it and b.) had started it and was enjoying the opening chapters. Since my experience with it wasn't quite what I was expecting, I just wanted to clear the air in case you were wondering what my impressions were.)

I did receive a copy of this title from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest opinions (which I'm generally not afraid to share.)

Top 10 Favorite Books of 2011

Hmm...it's time to reflect. For me, this is also usually a time of (personal) annoyance when I usually look back and wonder why I spent the majority of my reading time in the way that I did. There have been a few years where I end up thinking, "Man! I sure wasted A LOT of reading time!" This year is a little bit better. I'm not as annoyed by my choices. Sure, I see room for improvement (lots of room still!) but I think I'm prioritizing a little bit better. I suppose that this will be a lifelong learning process for me. (Do not guffaw. We all like perfection sooner than we can reasonable *ahem* achieve it!) At any rate, I looked through my list of books read in 2011 and I would have to say that the following ten were my top favorites (all linked to my reviews, with explanations as to why they are making this list):

1. I'm Outnumbered, by Laura Lee Groves



Loved this one. Best book on raising boys to be, as my friend would say, "tender warriors." In today's society it seems as if we're encouraged to raise our sons in one of two ways. Here are your choices:

Raise them to be pansies.
Raise them to be hooligans.

This book isn't entirely popular but I think it is completely reasonable and well-thought out. I was greatly encouraged by it and it's now my top recommendation for mothers of sons, looking for advice and encouragement.

2. Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches, by Rachel Jankovic



Yeah, well, can you tell where I'm at in life right about now? I love my children dearly but some days are awfully hairy! It's good to know that I'm not alone, and also that I'm spending my time wisely and well. This book was spiritually encouraging to me as well as laugh-outloud funny - perhaps because I can identify with much of what she said. If you're a mother of littles, you know what I mean.

3. The Kitchen Boy, by Robert Alexander



This was a very memorable piece of historical fiction surrounding the last Tsar of Russia and his family. Impeccably well-written; I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I read Alexander's second book related to the Tsar, Rasputin's Daughter (also linked to my review) but didn't care for that one quite so much.

4. Practicing Affirmation, by Sam Crabtree



I'm still working on this one. I'll probably be working on this one my whole life. Definitely one to throw on the re-read pile. Somewhere near the top!

5. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett



This one is just brilliantly impacting (in my humble estimation) and engaging. I know I'm not alone and I almost shudder to think that I like a New York Times Bestseller. But there it is. I cannot lie. I loved this book, this story (and The Help movie - linked to my thoughts - also!)

6. Made to Crave, by Lysa Terkeurst



This one was eye-opening and thought-provoking. I think the bottom line is that she made me realize how very little self-discipline I have. And that not just in the area of food but in life in general. It's a painful realization and one that still needs (and receives) a great deal of attention. But this book made me admit certain things to myself that rather needed some admitting.

7. Entwined, by Heather Dixon



Just. Pure. Fun.

8. Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand



Another bestseller. (Sheesh! What's happening to me!?) Very worthy read though. It was both inspiring and uplifting in a a very surprising way. If you haven't read it yet, you ought to. This one goes on my Highly Recommended list!

9. The Gathering Storm, by Winston Churchill (Part I & Part II)



This book made me realize how it is worth taking the time to read a long(er) book. I was challenged by this read, as well as informed by the past. Not only that but I was entertained to boot! (Winston Churchill is terribly witty.) I realized how much I was cheating myself by sticking with short books just so that I could say I read more books or read faster. Churchill requires a bit of careful, thoughtful plodding and the reading exercise was good for me. It whetted my appetite for longer more complex stories. I hope to visit with more during 2012.

10. What Churchill started, Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading finished.



I'll definitely be changing the way I read, think and live after having read this book. I have much more to say on that but I'm saving my thoughts on this title for its own special post where I can sort things out for myself. If you are a reader (and even if you aren't) I highly, highly, highly recommend this book! It's an absolutely DON'T MISS!

After reading through my list of Top 10 Favs I feel more content with myself than I thought I would. I distinctly remember feelings of displeasure in past years, having spent time with books I didn't really care about and didn't apply as well as I could to my own life. This year I feel like I turned a bit of a corner (still turning) and was more choose-y (a good thing) and therefore I can look back over the year and feel that I read books that were edifying to me personally. And by that I mean that I could either glean and apply spiritual truths from those reads or that I was satisfactorily entertained in a positive manner.

I know that there is so much more than I wish to change about the way I approach books in the future but for 2011 I'm going to be content. I'm happy to be feeling content!

What were some of your favorite reads this past year? I'm curious to know what hit the spot with you. I'm sure that many of you have written up like-mannered posts. If you have and care to share, leave a link in the comment section and I'll hop over and read your list.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebration! See you around again after the holiday!

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2011 :: Conclusion

Fall Into Reading Challenge conclusion: I didn't accomplish everything on my list. I got close, but it didn't quite make it. I would be tempted to be annoyed with myself but this exercise of setting goals was actually quite helpful in directing my reading throughout the fall and as I read along, my thoughts and ideas about what types of books are important to read changed.

Also, I found having an initial list of goals quite helpful because whenever I hit a reading slump or pause, I could revisit my list and see what was important for me to read. It helped me prioritize which is always a good thing.

Here is my original list and below is the same list and why I read or didn't read books that I originally included in my personal fall challenge.

1. A Sound Among the Trees, by Susan Meissner. I started this one but haven't finished it. Meissner gripped my attention in the opening pages so I don't reckon it will take me very long to get through this particular read. It's my "over the week of Christmas book" and I'll share my thoughts on it come January.

2. The Woman Who Heard Color - I read that one and the title is linked to my review. I really, really enjoyed this one! A lot!

3. God Behaving Badly. I didn't read this and I'm not going to. After reading Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books (linked to some initial thoughts), I came to the conclusion that reading God Behaving Badly was really not something that would edify me and/or be beneficial. I'm going to spend my valuable reading time elsewhere.

4. Why Church Matters, by Josh Harris - Linked to my review. Excellent, excellent read. I highly recommend it!

5. Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books - I've linked this one to my initial thoughts. This book has been positively life changing (as books are a great part of my life) and I'm still pondering how to make certain practical life applications. I heartily and enthusiastically encourage anyone and everyone to Read This Book!!!! If it's the only book you read in 2012 (and it won't be) then it will be worth it!



6. The Second World War (book series) by Winston Churchill - I knew this would be a serious project. And it will be! I read The Gathering Storm (post 1 & post 2) which I divided up into a Reader's Diary sort of post. I hope, plan and intend to continue on in this excellent series in 2012.

7. The Grimm Legacy - Linked to my thoughts. Majorly disliked this particular title and do not recommend it at all!

8. An Experiment in Criticism, by C.S. Lewis - I was hoping to read this on the heels of Lit! but I ran out of time. (Having just finished Lit! this past weekend.) Since these two titles go hand in hand and I'm ruminating on this very topic, I'll be getting to this title immediately after the one I'm currently reading.

9. The Princess Bride was going to be a re-read for me (just for the mere pleasure) but I didn't get to it in time. I'll still look forward to re-reading it.

10. I had planned to read a Betsy-Tacy book as part of Sarah's Maud Heart Lovelace Reading Challenge and I did manage to squeeze in a re-read of Betsy-Tacy and Tib at the very last minute! (Linked to my thoughts.) I always enjoy this challenge and have every intention of joining in again next fall!

So that's how I fared during the Fall Into Reading Challenge. Thanks, Katrina, for hosting! This is such a great tool for me to use and I have a feeling I'll be making good use of your Spring Reading Challenge as well!

In the meantime, I'm gearing up for the Lucy Maud Montgomery Challenge (which I host every January). I'm very much looking forward to diving back into some of my favorite Montgomery books. (I find her a restful and imaginative way to enter into a new year.)

It starts Monday, January 2, 2012.



Also, the Reading to Know online Bookclub will be starting up and our first title is Beyond Opinion, by Ravi Zacharias. To learn more about this online bookclub, click on the button below.




Merry Christmas everyone!

Lit: A Christian Guide to Reading Books // The Week in Words

I have sooooo much to say about Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books, but it's not something I want to rush through either thinking or talking about. I spent all of last week with this title and finished it up over the weekend. Many ideas are still peculating in my brain. This book was on my Fall Into Reading Challenge list (linked to my goals) and I did want to mention that I finished it (on schedule! in 2011!) but I think I want to wait and talk about it in more detail when January rolls around.

Lit! has definitely changed the way I approach books. It may have even changed the way I write about them. It definitely changed my online habits which effect my ability to read.

I think everyone who calls themselves a reader should read Lit!. I also think that everyone who thinks that they are not a reader should read this one. Then, I also think that those who say that they would love to read but can't find the time should read it as well! This is a book for everyone. It is full of things to ponder. But wait - I said I didn't want to talk about it in full. So, using Barbara's The Week in Words meme, I'll just share a few passages that grabbed me:

"When we set out to read important books, we can expect opposition from our hearts. Reading is a discipline, and all disciplines require self-discipline, and self-discipline is the one thing our sinful flesh will resist.
Our spirit may be eager to read a book, but our flesh is weak. Our flesh would rather self-indulge on passive entertainment. Movies and television can be wonderful gifts from God if we use them wisely, but unchecked they will hijack our schedules and rob us of our reading time. Book reading is not just a matter of time management; it is a matter of warfare. Wherever sinful self-indulgence dominates our free time, we can be certain that personal idols are at work in our flesh, seeking to divide and conquer the soul (1 Pet. 2:11). (Chapter 10, Too Busy to Read, page 131)

"As with most areas of life, success requires planning. Having a clear purpose for why you read will ensure that the few books you choose will be the books most likely to benefit your life." (Chapter 7, Read With Resolve, page 94)

I hope to make 2012 a more successful reading year than 2011 was. I think I made quite a few mental changes as I read along this past year, but there are certainly more changes to come, thanks, in part, to Lit!. So stay tuned!

(Seriously - if you want to challenge yourself when it comes to how you pick and choose your reads and order your reading life, pick up a copy of this book. I cannot see how you would end up regretting it!)

Thanks to Crossway for sending a copy of it my way. I think. ;D (More to follow on this book and this topic.)

When Santa Fell to Earth, by Cornelia Funke

Worst Christmas book EVER!!!

Why did I read this?! (Well, there is a reason but it involves TMI about this being the bathroom book and my always forgetting to switch it out and so I just muddled through, hoping it would improve. When Santa Fell to Earth is a (mercifully) short and a quick read. I suppose that is it's saving grace. The content definitely belongs in the bathroom so it's sort of fitting.)

Cornelia Funke is a hit-or-miss author for me. I LOVED Inkheart. Hated Inkspell. LOVED The Thief Lord. Hate When Santa Fell to Earth. And I know that tween fans of Funke will find this post and say I'm stupid because of it (they've done it before) and so be it. I'll be stupid then. (They likely picked up the word "stupid" as applied to adults after reading this book.)

The basic premise is this:

The last real Santa has fallen to earth in his caravan (full of Christmas elves and angels) and is stranded in a location where children do not believe in the real Santa Clause anymore. Not that there are many left to believe in. The big bad Goblynch has turned all of the real Santas into chocolate Clauses and has filled Christmas with a spirit of commercialism, promoting game consuls instead of original Christmas elf gifts. Goblynch and his crew of wicked nutcrackers are out to find this last real Santa and turn him into chocolate also. If not for a young boy named Ben, and his friend Charlotte, the world would be missing the true spirit of Christmas as Goblynch would have taken over everything and Christmas magic would be no more.

This is possibly an entertaining concept - a fanciful and fun Christmas story except the elves immediately strike the tone for the book, swearing all the way. (It's "clean swearing" but still. Phrases like, "Smelly goblin farts!" and "steaming reindeer poo!" do not endear me to this particular story.)

Then there is Ben, the main character. The little boy who cheats on math tests, and outright hates his parents is written up to be the Savior of Christmas, ultimately destroying Goblynch, thereby freeing the real Santa to reign again. Ben's parents are apparently out-of-touch with reality, or at least with Ben. They long to go to a warmer climate for Christmas and simply cannot understand why Ben doesn't want to go with them. Ben wants to stay home and play in the snow. His parents "force" a vacation on him, mocking him with purchased airplane tickets which will take them south. But then, lo and behold, Ben's dad breaks his leg and curses the moon for it interfering with their vacation plans. Ben is pleased as punch with his dad's predicament and offers not an ounce of sympathy. On Christmas day itself, Ben cops such an attitude with his dad, and is so angry with his parents that he, "would have loved to kick his leg cast."

This book pictures a completely dysfunctional and angry family. Not that such types do not exist, but it's rather loathsome to read about - and completely unsatisfying in any respect - when the author chooses to leave the problems unspecified and doesn't see fit to deal with them. Most children would not be picking up this book in order to get a realistic picture of what family life can be like under hard circumstances. They'd be picking this up to read a Christmas story. As such, I have to say that it is deplorable. The book doesn't bother me because their family life is hard but because there is no justifiable reason for it being hard. Funke seems to suggest that what is wrong in their relationships is actually right and the authority structure, which should be right, is wrong. The family she gives us to spend time with just flat out doesn't work. They dislike each other. And when families just don't like each other, it's hard to want to spend time with them. Ben's family refuses to treat each other kindly under any circumstances and Funke suggests that Ben has it all right and all together when he's a pipsqueak who needs a bit of direction and instruction! (Ahem.)

I would not like Ben at all if he were a real person and I don't like the way that Funke has the real Santa suggesting that Ben is the only decent person on earth. Ben cheats. He lies. He's rude and unkind. We cannot think that he's wonderful when we find him lying, cheating and bullying without explanation or resolution. So, no. I don't like him. Not even just a little bit!

I certainly would not hand this book over to my kids. I picked it up at Goodwill for $0.99 to give it a whirl and by my estimation, it's not even worth that much. I can't decide if I'll just send it back from whence it came, or deposit it in the trashcan. Because after the bathroom, the trashcan is the only other place where this book could possibly feel at home.

The Christmas Singing, by Cindy Woodsmall

To me, December is a month when I want to read fluffy, happy stories and wrap up any end-of-the-year reading projects. My preference is to spend the month with books that bring a smile to the face and do nothing to disturb my mental peace. Nothing strenuous. Happiness and joy sort of stuff.

Last year I think I spent all of December reading Christmas-related titles. This year not so much. I have a stack I want to get to, of course (as usual), but it's not going to happen and I'm going to be ok with that. I did agree to read one book in particular though (and didn't mind doing so) and therefore I did carve out some time for it this past week. 'Twas The Christmas Singing, by Cindy Woodsmall.

Apparently Woodsmall has written a handful of Amish-related Christian fiction stories. I haven't read any prior to this one because a.) I hadn't actually heard of Woodsmall before; b.) you all know I'm not a huge fan of Christian fiction and am infinitely suspicious of it; and/or b.) it's about the Amish. Let me clearly state that I have nothing against the Amish. Rather, I now feel like the Christian reading world has been inundated with pieces of fiction about the Amish to the point where we are over-saturated with such titles. Too many to choose from. and they all sound the same. That sort of thing!

All of the above declared, I had no objections to reading a work of Christian fiction about the Amish that has a Christmas theme. I figured if it were light and fluffy it would be welcome given this time of year. There is probably no other time during the year when this book would have been a good fit for me but in this case I was doin' fine!

I really rather enjoyed The Christmas Singing. It's perfect chick flick with a happy ending (I'm offering no spoilers here. It's predictable and you can totally guess what happens without my breathing a word of the conclusion!) In this book we meet Mattie Eash who is suffering from a broken heart. The man she loved/loves, Gideon Beiler, broke things off with her three years prior to the start of this story. However, in true Anne and Gilbert fashion, they separated due to lack of communication and a giant misunderstanding. It takes an accident to bring them back together again. Naturally they realize that they are still fond of one another and -- well, I'll try not to spoil the read for you! (Heh.)

Let's just say that this book is everything I expected which made it a really fun Christmas read. It's full of snow, Christmas cheer, cake decorating, horses and buggies, and, of course, romance. All wrapped up in an Amish package, of course.

I don't mean to trivialize the tale or make it sound silly. It's not my usual cup of tea but have I mentioned it's December? And that I like quick, happy predictability during the reading month of December? This has all the necessary elements required to cause you to sit back, relax, (possibly enjoy a bowl of peppermint ice cream) and enjoy a good, quiet read.

I've no complaints and although it feels as if I don't have much to say about this book that is of much substance, I would say that it perfectly satisfied my expectations for the season and was a very fun little treat.

Thank you, Waterbrook Multnomah, for sending a copy my way.

The Kids of Carcassonne

If you're a fan of the game Carcassonne and if you've been waiting to introduce your children to this game, then you're in luck! Rio Grande Games recently released The Kids of Carcassonne which is a simplified version of the adult game.

The basic idea is still the same - you are building roads and paths. You take possession of certain areas. However, in this particular version or edition of the game, you are trying to capture animals that have been released in the town and return them to their pens by the end of the day. You do not keep score in this kids' version. Rather the first person to use all of their figures wins the game.

As you might have gathered from yesterday's post, this game falls into Daddy Territory. He is the Chief Kids of Carcassonne Game Player in this household. I asked him what his impression of it was after playing it with our boys (aged almost 3 and a definite 5 years old) and he said that it was fantastic. He said that it was perfect for their age level, that our five year old could fully comprehend the rules of the game and plays it well. Our almost three year old enjoys playing it also (although his full comprehension might be called into question.) For our family this game is perfect to play with the children. It involves a bit of skill, a bit of thinking, and is just plain fun.

(If you say that you are playing Carcasonne it likely makes you feel more like you are an adult instead of saying that you spent your evening playing Candy Land which just makes you feel like a parent. Not that there's a good/bad distinction to be made here. Just sayin'!)

The game can be played with 2-4 players and generally lasts for about 20 minutes. This is a good time frame for our five year old. (I did read some other reviews of this game online which indicated that it worked well for four year olds also. The game is earmarked for ages 4 and up.)

While the packaging/cover art isn't likely to impress your average four year old, I would say that this is a more thoughtful and interesting game to play than you generally see about town. We're glad to own it. Daddy has spent the past month playing this with the boys off and on and it is enjoyed, every time, without fail. This one comes highly recommended.

******

In the spirit of Carcassonne games, Rio Grande Games also released New World: A Carcassonne Game which is a variation on a theme.



Instead of building roads and taking possession of land in medieval Europe, you are placing yourself in the New World (ta da!), building towns, roads, etc. This is kind of a fun-themed game when studying Columbus and other explorers of the New World. Just a fun idea to toss into the mix.

Thank you, Rio Grande Games, for allowing us the opportunity to check out some of your newer releases. It's been a great deal of fun for our family!

Simon Flash (Game Giveaway)

If you know me personally and well, you know that I am not really a game person. If I'm going to play a game, I like it to be the sort that will allow for conversation to happen over and around it. Either that, or I like a good game of Solitaire. Games do not generally equate to fun in my book. (So how did I marry into a gaming family? Well, I just simply don't know.)

My oldest son (Bookworm1, age 5) would seem to take after his father though and loves games. When he wants to play something more heady, Daddy plays with him. Call Mommy in for games like Candy Land, Hi Ho Cherrio! or Don't Break the Ice. (Those types of games. I like those types.) When I saw an e-mail come through asking if I would like to review a copy of Simon Flash I thought it looked like something I would have fun playing with him so I said I'd be happy to take a look at it.

Simon Flash arrived and judging by the looks of the box I wasn't so sure it would be a winner in this house. First, my husband eyed in suspiciously. (That's always a bad sign.) I figured it would be up to me to introduce the game. My moment came last week when all five of us simultaneously came down with a cold. I figured this game might prove diverting and so out it came.

The basic idea is this, shamelessly stolen from Amazon:

Featuring four brainteaser games to challenge your child's memory, speed, and logic, Hasbro's Simon Flash is a high-tech twist on the legendary Simon game. Four electronic cubes utilize light, sound, and changing colors to keep your child having fun and learning new skills during each game. Revolutionary Wonder-Link technology allows each cube to know where you've placed it, when you win a round, and keeps track of the score.

There are four ways which you can play Simon Flash:

1. Simon Classic - the classic Simon game where you correctly repeat an increasing sequence of colors;

2. Simon Shuffle - you solve each puzzle by lining up the colors in the original order displayed;

3. Simon Lights Off - you solve each puzzle by lining up the cubes in the correct order so that all the lights turn off; or

4. Simon Secret Color - you solve the puzzle by figuring out the order to place the cubes in.

The game says it is for ages 8 and up but, as I mentioned, Bookworm1 is 5 and this game is perfect for him. The kid thinks in patterns and numbers though so I think that helped to make the Simon Classic version of the game approachable and easy. (He actually beats me when it comes to following the color pattern for the longest period of time.) Now, Bookworm1 has a hard time with Simon Shuffle because you have to move the lit squares around fairly quickly and his hand-eye coordination is not that great.

The great thing about this game is you can compete against others (given that each individual game with the cubes last from 90 seconds to 2 minutes in length) or you can play it all by yourself. (Hello, Mommy and her love of solitaire!)

Bookworm2 (age 2 3/4) really, really loves this game but he stinks at it. Definitely need to be older than two to play it, no matter how fun it looks. (Bookworm3 - age 9 months - is also a huge fan of the color flashing cubes and would like to eat them.) The good thing about Bookworm2 wanting to play it, however, is that it encourages him to learn his colors so that he can actually win the games! Because the game is all about colors and flashing lights, it is hugely attractive to younger people. As it is a game of speed and pattern (but is somewhat simplistic in nature) it holds appeal to those of us who do not wish to expend too many brain cells when playing a game, but will occasionally accept a minor challenge in this department.

On the whole, this mom is going to give this game two thumbs up. (It was also a perfect game to have around when everyone was sick and down and out. Bookworm1 laid on the couch for awhile playing the Classic Simon version of the game and we just passed it back and forth between us.) It's a low-key, low stress game and I like it very much for that. I don't know that I would have purchased it outright for our family because it just doesn't look like much from the packaging. My husband, being infinitely suspicious of new games, would have definitely passed it by. But I think it is surprisingly usable in teaching colors and patterns in a fun, flashy sort of way.

The great news for YOU is that Hasbro has offered to giveaway one copy of Simon Flash to one of you!

To win? Simply leave a comment below. This contest will be open through Wednesday, December 21st and is open to U.S. Residents only. Please leave a valid e-mail address along with your comment so that I can easily contact you, should you be selected as the winner.

(The games will be shipped post-January 6th so please do not expect to receive your copy before Christmas, should you be selected as the winner.)

Growing Grateful Kids, by Susie Larson

I'm going to preface my remarks by saying that I'm not sure if I'm going to say what I want to say here very well. Some points may be further clarified through comments and dialogue. I'm thinking as I type.

I've sat on this book for a little while, not writing up my thoughts immediately upon finishing it as I usually do. I completed this read before Thanksgiving but am just now sitting down to write about it.

Originally I picked up Growing Grateful Kids, by Susie Larson because I thought it would be helpful in teaching our kids about how much they have in relation to others in the world and how we should be grateful as the title suggests, etc., etc. And while all of that is true I guess I must confess that I was looking to see if I'd be convicted to "go small" for Christmas instead of celebrate wildly like I'm rather inclined to do. I thought maybe Larson might convince me that I have too much, that my kids have too much and that we should drop Christmas and run to a third world country and -- well, you get the picture.

Because my motivation in reading Growing Grateful Kids was bent in a certain direction, I feel the need to say the following:

1. It is true that Americans do not live in third world conditions, despite the fact that many people in the U.S. think that they do.
2. It is true that certain Americans foster and promote a materialistic society.
3. It is true that my family has their needs met, materially speaking.
4. It is true that I like to celebrate life in many and various ways.
5. It is true that I know how to give good gifts to my children.
6. It is true that I think that it's ok to give good gifts to my children.
7. It is true that I love the holiday season.
8. It is true that I am a Christian.
9. It is true that I think that because I am a Christian I think I should know how to better celebrate holidays than a non-Christian because I have more cause to celebrate (if I believe in the basic tenants of the Christian faith.)
10. It is true that we are to care for our neighbors and not put more emphasis on things than we do on Christ.
11. It is true that we don't know the exact date of Christ's birth.
12. It is true that Christmas has been commercialized and has become more "worldly."
13. It is true that anything good can be hijacked and spoiled by the world and therefore you should examine anything and everything in light of scriptures and make a determination of whether or not something is profitable (in the spiritual sense) for you to engage in.
14. It is also true that Christ WAS born here on earth and the church has put a fixed period of time on their calendar to observe this event, as well as the event of His death on the cross.
15. It is true that the world gave us the Easter Bunny but God still gave His son and I'm going to observe His act of sacrifice no matter what the world says or does at the same time.
16. And it's true that I'm not therefore going to be stickler about the unknown exact date of his birth but observe the fact that He had to be born in order to die.
17. It is very true that I celebrate Christmas - and that in a big way - and I've no apologies to offer for it. I hope I celebrate it more grandly and fully than the world does and that's pretty much all I have to say about that.

The above could-be-deemed-a-bunny-trail list of arguments but since I was wrestling with those thoughts when I picked up this book, I wanted to list them for my own sake. Every year I'm confronted by people who believe that celebrating Christmas is bad. Or that celebrating Jesus birth date on December 25th is bad. Or that I shouldn't buy any presents for my kids or _____________ (fill in the blanket with your own argument against celebrating Christmas wildly or as the date of Jesus' birth.) So I thought I should read Growing Grateful Kids to see if it would change my mind about over saturating my children with a Crazy Christmas without teaching them to be grateful (in some determined-by-some-other-person-to-be-the-right way.)

In case you want to skip the rest of this (lengthy) post and just figure out what my conclusion was: it was to carry on as we always have, changing little-to-nothing as this book really had nothing to do with giving away all that we had in order to teach my children to be grateful.

Actually, this book was nothing at all like I expected. It wasn't about my children and what they needed to learn. It was about me. All. about. me. (Isn't that always the way?! You want to instruct someone else and you end up learning a personal lesson yourself. What's that all about!?)

The entire book was about pursuing an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do that, then your kids will see it and, with a healthy dose of God's mercy and grace, your kids will learn to follow after God in their own right. Note: not because of what you have done, but because of what He has done (and continues to do in your life.)

"Our kids desperately need to know what it means to hear God's voice, but we cannot teach them something we ourselves do not understand. So for our sake and theirs, we must cultivate a lifestyle of listening to God and of doing what He says. Our kids need a living, breathing faith and they'll see it modeled as we pursue an authentic relationship with Jesus." (Introduction, page 16)

WHAT? Huh!?

Larson proceeds to talk about the things that plague as as individuals, mothers and parents: fear, worry, anxiety, etc. She addresses those problem attitudes in our lives and calls us to look to Christ to look after us and meet our needs. The book is a walk of encouragement alongside someone who has faced her own life trials and who is here to assure you that God will never leave you or forsake you no matter what the circumstances might currently look like. In the midst of a painful trial it's easy to lose sight of the fact that God is good, always. However, if we are faithful to continually seek after Him, listen for His voice and obey His instructions then our children will see this faith and will feel safe and secure in Christ even during the darkest moments in our lives.

She also spends time talking about how we are broken, sinful creatures ourselves, prone to mistakes. We cannot parent perfectly but we do have access to a God who delights to give His children wisdom as they face hard situations.

"We also need wisdom because we are still works in progress. Without wisdom, we will not only parent by reactions to our circumstances, we will also parent through the filter of our own hang-ups. Again, we cannot impart something that we ourselves do not possess. Unless we earnestly press the Lord for wisdom for our broken areas, we will parent in reaction to our fears and insecurities rather than in response to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in us." (Chapter 6, Ask for Wisdom, page 97)

(Can I get an Amen? I needed to read that!)

Now on the topic of gifts and "stuff", Larson does address the issue of contentment which, in my mind, is a year-round problem and not just a Christmas or holiday-oriented one. Our society does not encourage contentment. As I said earlier, it is a society that does foster greed. It's money driven and we are inundated with advertisements trying to convince us that all that we WANT we truly do NEED. But all that we need is in Christ Jesus. This is not a point I have argument against! Larson says:

"When our children watch us battle through our appetites and unfulfilled desires to find contentment, they'll learn that though it is not always an easy win, it is possible, and it is a good fight. When they hear us regularly thanking God for the specific blessings in our life, they will remember that they too are blessed. When they see us giving to others more often than grabbing for ourselves, they will see - at least for us - that "stuff" is a gift and not a source." (Chapter 8, Embrace Contentment, page 126)

I think that's a most important thing. Stuff isn't a source of happiness. It is a gift (yes, to be grateful for!) Stuff can certainly be exciting and can produce momentary glee. That's not bad in and of itself. We are allowed to have fun as Christians. We should be having fun as Christians. But if our ability to have fun ebbs and flows with the amount of things that we insist on surrounding ourselves with, then we have a problem. Stuff is fun, but it is very temporary and I think it is important to let the stuff go when and if it starts interfering with relationships with others (i.e., fighting over toys, being upset because you lent something out that was accidentally destroyed, etc.) or with our relationship with God.

Larson quotes John 1:36-39 and then says the following:

"I love this passage. Jesus - the One who would die for the sins of His followers - invited them to, "Come and see." He was never one for pat answers or useless cliches. Jesus wanted His disciples to learn by discovery; to grow within the context of a living, breathing relationship; and to change because they were more acquainted with His love than with their own tendencies towards sin. He invites us on the same journey. Jesus knows that we're not who we will be, but He sees what we can be, and so He invites us to follow Him, knowing that we'll be transformed along the way." (Chapter 10, Look Deeper, page 151)

Relationships are the more important thing. They trump the stuff any old day of the week. Living that fact is very important. Teaching our children that fact is very important. It doesn't mean that stuff and celebration is bad. It just means that we need to keep our priorities straight and take the "stuff" for exactly what it is - gifts to be enjoyed along the way. "Stuff" is just a temporary pleasure that is not a sinful gift in and of itself, but "stuff" is also not what we build our happiness on. Our happiness can and is only to be found and maintained in a living, breathing, real-life relationship with Christ Jesus.

I'll conclude with the idea that Larson expresses of living a bold faith in front of our children, concentrating on our own sins, confessing and rejoicing before young eyes and hearts so that they can more fully see Christ in our own lives.

"Our children have the potential of being tomorrow's leaders. They are tomorrow's business owners, attorneys, pastors, wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, elders, and neighbors. With God's help, may we be bold and insightful enough to see the Lord's image in our children. May we discern the Lord's call on our kids' lives at an early age and then cooperate with Him by making the way clear for them. And may our walk of faith be so real and so vibrant that our children will grow up to be grateful adults because they lived in a home where God was honored above all else." (Chapter 10, Look Deeper, page 157)

Instead of providing conviction that I was celebrating Christmas/the holidays inappropriately with my children, instead I was invited and encouraged to examine sinful attitudes, desires and actions within my own heart and life so that I could walk more whole heartedly in Christ. With an authentic faith mirrored for my children, I hope great things.

Larson also quoted this which really should be my summary for a post like this:

"We cannot grow beyond our ability to receive correction." Francis Frangipane

My conclusion - at this time - for teaching children gratefulness during the holiday season is to continue on celebrating wildly, loving well and pointing our children to the Giver of All Good Things all the way.

My conclusion - personally speaking - as a result of reading this book was that I have a lot of personal issues to work on and it's prideful and sinful of me to set about working on correcting only my children while having an attitude that I'm Just Alright myself. The Christian walk is a tough one. Much is required and the journey doesn't end until God calls me home. I've still much to learn. For the record, I'm very grateful for this book and the thoughts it provoked as I read through it. Yes, I do heartily recommend it!

"We have this one life, this short time on earth to make our mark and to make life count. We have these children in our care for a blink of an eye. Now is the time to be engaged and fully present. Now is the time to seek divine insight into God's plan for their lives. Now is the time to rise up and be the parent that we might train our kids in the way they should go.
We are not alone. Not by a long shot. Yes, we have a seemingly impossible task before us, but we have Christ within us, and the heavens cheering for us. We can make a difference in this world! We can do every single thing God asks us to through Christ who gives us strength." (Chapter 16, Be Like Christ, page 234)