Growing Up with Dick and Jane, by Carole Kismaric and Martin Heiferman

Growing Up with Dick and Jane, by Carole Kismaric and Martin Heiferman

I was between 2 1/2 and 3 years old when I first began reading. I can remember it vividly. My mother had a Dick and Jane reader, which is still in my possession, and she would read out of it with me daily, until one day, I knew the words myself. I did not just memorize the story; my mother tested me by jumping to different words, and I knew them all, even out of order. Once I unlocked the ability to read, there was no stopping me. I became a lifelong reader, passionate about books.

I was pleased to find this book, because Dick and Jane is dear to my heart. This book did not disappoint. It gives the origin of Dick and Jane, history on the author and illustrator, how Dick and Jane changed through the years, and even added African American friends during the time of integration. It also includes a history of life in America during the time of Dick and Jane, what children experienced, and how learning changed over the years.

If you have ever read a Dick and Jane reader, or just have an enjoyment for childhood education or even 20th Century American history, this is worth a read.

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Peony in Love, by Lisa See

Peony in Love, by Lisa See

I love Lisa See's books. I am fascinated with Asian culture, and she puts so much research and heart into her books, likely because she is passionate about her own family history.

This book is a work of fiction, like most of her books, but I was not expecting this book to be what it was, a ghost story and love story rolled into one. It is a story about a young girl about to be married to a man she has never met, but after reading a certain book, becomes lovesick, and dies before being married. She becomes a ghost, and in her death and afterworld life, we learn about Chinese ideas not just on life after death, but also customs which must be performed for the dead, and to protect the living from the dead. It's very interesting and entertaining, definitely not written with American ways of thinking on anything, including monogamous marriage. 

I found it fascinating and enjoyable, following Peony in her quest to love her husband even after death, and try to take her place as an ancestor.

Would you like to buy me a book, or help keep my little free library stocked and maintained? You can donate here: paypal.me/AmyVanGaasbeck 

 

Mom's Little Book of Photo Tips by Lisa Bearnson

Mom's Little Book of Photo Tips, by Lisa Bearnson

This book, written by the editor of Creating Keepsakes magazine, gives great tips for creating interesting photos, using interesting composition, lighting, coloring, and different subjects. This is a great little book especially if you are into scrapbooking, want to be a better photographer, or even, like me, you are an artist looking for an interesting composition for your next piece of art.

Would you like to buy me a book, or help keep my little free library stocked and maintained? You can donate here: paypal.me/AmyVanGaasbeck 

 

One Glorious Ambition, by Jane Kirkpatrick

One Glorious Ambition, by Jane Kirkpatrick

This is the true story of Dorothea Dix, a single woman in the 1800s who ended up spending the majority of her life on a crusade to help the unfortunate, mainly the mentally ill, lobbying for funding and construction of humane insane asylums across the country. 

It starts out in her childhood, in extreme poverty with a mother who is implied to be mentally ill, and an alcoholic and irresponsible father. She begged her grandmother for help, and her grandmother sent her to relatives. While with them, she decided to become a teacher of the young and unfortunate, which she did for many years, but after almost dying of an illness, she found her true calling, that of lobbying for the mentally ill. 

That a woman could be heard and make such an impact in that time period, is an amazing feat in itself. She was able to make a difference in countless lives.

Jane Kirkpatrick always does such an excellent job researching and writing in the voice of the character. This is not the first book I have read of hers and certainly won't be the last. 

Would you like to buy me a book, or help keep my little free library stocked and maintained? You can donate here: paypal.me/AmyVanGaasbeck 

 

Natural Woman, Natural Menopause, by Marcus Laux ND, and Christine Conrad

Natural Woman, Natural Menopause by Marcus Laux, ND and Christine Conrad

I am in my forties and changes are happening in my body, as I come closer to menopause. I am not there yet; I am considered perimenopausal. This includes weight gain around the middle, and irregular menstrual cycles. I have not had to deal with hot and cold flashes, night sweats, or mood swings...yet. I thought this would be a good book to read. I have heard some people swear by hormone replacement therapy, others refuse it. This book has answered a lot of questions that I had, on what HRT involves, and the side effects. I also learned that there are plants out there that produce hormonal chemicals that are exactly the same as what is in a woman's body, which is not the case with Premarin and Provera. I learned about hormonal creams, and herbs that can help ease the transition into the next stage of life, as well as beneficial foods to support the menopausal body.

This book is definitely worth reading, although it was published in 1998.I would like to get my hands on a newer book just to see what has changed. 

Also, because of reading this, I am more confident about the choices I will make going into menopause, whereas before I didn't have a plan.

Would you like to buy me a book, or help keep my little free library stocked and maintained? You can donate here: paypal.me/AmyVanGaasbeck 

 

1 Thessalonians, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 This is a small letter written by Paul to the church of Thessalonica. I am just going to share one passage, chapter 4, starting at verse 10, "...But we encourage you, brothers, to...seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone. "

Simple yet powerful words. 

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Colossians, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 Two passages stuck out to me in this little epistle written by Paul, one in chapter 2. Starting at verse 8, "Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of this world, and not based on Christ."

There were so many other religious and philosophical ideas and teachings at that time, as there are today, that people not versed in God's word (back then the Old Testament and the accounts of the apostles including Paul) that they were mixing theology together and losing the Gospel of Christ. On one hand you had those mixing in paganism, then on the other hand you had Jews insisiting  obeying every letter of the Torah, including the 600 some extra laws that the Pharisees put on top of that, with the idea that their salvation was based partly on Jesus, and mostly obeying all these laws. Both were making salvation into something other than what it should have been.

We need to be careful to understand God's word, including the law and His covenant with Israel, but not forget that it is by grace that we are saved, not by our works or our ability to follow the law to the letter. However, knowing the law and the entirety of God's word will help keep us from falling for false teachings. Some sound very good, but put against the standard of God's word, they don't line up.

The other passage was starting at 3: 5 "Therefore put to death what belongs to your worldly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God's wrath comes on the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self."

This is a good reminder of things which current society is normalizing, should be things that we have nothing to do with. It's a good reminder to check ourselves, and see if we are allowing these things to enter our minds and lives. Are we participating in these actions? Time to remove them and step it up.

Would you like to buy me a book, or help keep my little free library stocked and maintained? You can donate here: paypal.me/AmyVanGaasbeck