Needle and thREAD

I really need to thank Elizabeth for starting this weekly "linky party"! I haven't sewed in a while and her posts of the past few weeks have gotten me inspired. So, this past week, while the temperatures reached 90 degrees, I realized that the little girls needed some summer clothes, and I became excited and headed off to the fabric store. I had looked through my patterns before heading to the store. I decided to start with the outfitting of Kimberly. I had a few suitable patterns, but became super excited when I saw that the McCall's patterns were on sale for $.99 at Joann's Fabrics...JACKPOT!
I bought fabric for tops, capris, shorts and pajamas.

I started with this very cute and easy top and lightweight denim capris. The pattern for the top is McCall's M6313. It sewed up very quickly, and I love the elastic on the neck and sleeves.

The capris are McCall's pattern 4006. I added white pregathered eyelet to the bottoms.
I like the fit of these...I plan on making a couple more pairs of these.
The book I am enjoying right now is Mary Higgins Clark's Where Are You Now?


I did have a little bit of a hard time getting into this book. There are so many characters, I was having to look back to figure out who was who, but now, 3/4 of the way done, I have been pulled into the story. The kids think it is really funny that when I read Mary Higgins Clark I tend to get quite nervous, I only read them when other are still awake...I have read a few when I was alone and scared myself. LOL!


I'm looking forward to my next book, The Invisible Thread. It was highly recommended to me and sounds very interesting...I will let you know what I think of it next week.


The trampoline test!! The test where you see how well the new clothes stand up to the trampoline.
These new clothes pass the test.

Forget Me Not--a book review

Forget Me Not--by Vicki Hinze


A mother who cannot face her future.
THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?


Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com to learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.

I just loved this book---it kept me up for quite a few nights in a row when I would say to myself, "I am going to read just one more page!"

This page turner is for anyone who loves a mystery!

Forget Me Not was provided to me at no charge from Waterbrook Multnomah.

This Little Prayer of Mine

"I know you're up in heaven, God,

and can hear my voice from there.

I'm just a little child.

Will you answer my short prayer?"

So begins this delightful book that affirms God's readiness to answer our prayers, no matter what our age.

With engaging rhymes and beautiful illustrations, This LIttle Prayer of Mine assures children that God is always near--watching, listening, and eager to respond to their requests. They'll also learn that prayer isn't just about asking for things, but about sharing their feelings of sadness and uncertainty as well as of thanksgiving and joy.

Most important, This Little Prayer of Mine reminds children--and those who love them--that they can trust God to tenderly care for them, no mater what the future holds.

My kids have really been enjoying this book. The illustratons kept the littles looking through the book even after we were done reading it aloud. It also helped to teach the older kids about how many different kinds of prayer there is. They learning that prayer is not only about asking for things from God, but also about saying "thank you" for our God has givin us.

I highly recommend this book!

This review book was provided with no charge from Waterbrook Multnomah. If you would like to know more about This Little Prayer of Mine, make sure to visit RandomHouse.com.

Mother-Daughter Duet by Cheri Fuller & Ali Plum

"When your daughter was born, you had a thousand hopes and dreams for her....including that one day you'd be best friends." Mother and Daughter Duet

As the mother of five girls, I hope to be able to say someday that they have grown into some of my closest friends, and I am so thankful to God that I can say that my oldest daughter, Becky, and I are the best of friends, and my other girls and I seem to be heading down this same joyous path!!

I have to say, that I learned how to build these relationships with my daughters from my own mother, who is my best friend.

If you are not blessed to have such wonderful relationships, mother and daughter team, Cheri Fuller & Ali Plum have written the book, Mother and Daughter Duet

The chapters begin with "Letting Go" and continue through various life milestones that we all go through and how to deal with them harmoniously with our daughters, from the time they leave the nest, get married and then become mothers themselves.

The chapters are written from the perspective of both the mother and daughter, which I enjoyed. The book also includes discussion questions which would be helpful in working through our own mother daughter relationships.

If you are looking to improve upon your relationship with your daughter, I do recommend this book.

This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing group.

Dancing with My Father by Sally Clarkson

There have been many times in my life, and I am sure in many or your lives, when we ask ourselves, "Why does everything have to be so hard?"
In her book, Dancing with My Father, Sally Clarkson tries to help us find the answer to this question.

Written partly as a memoir and partly as a self help book, the author, in a warm and loving way, strives to challenge us to trust in God to lead us to the gift of everyday joy, no matter what the circumstances we face.

I especially enjoyed the reflection and prayers at the end of each chapter.

With such a shortage of joy in the world today, Dancing with My Father shows us how developing a prayerful, loving, and fatherly relationship with God is the way to discover, or re-discover the joy that can be had in this world on our journey to the everlasting joy we will have with God in heaven.

This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Awakening: by Claudia Cangilla McAdam: a review of a remarkable book

If you are looking for the perfect book for your teenage daughter to read during this Lenten season, I have found it.

Awakening by Claudia Cangilla McAdam is the story of a teenage girl, transformed, during an illness, back into the time of Jesus, on the Wednesday of Holy Week.

In the present time, the main character, Ronnie, has faced a devastating lose and is questioning the reasons for sacrifice and death. When she awakens in the year 33 AD she realizes it is her chance to stop the Crucifixtion of Christ. She can not make sense out of the fact that there is any reason for suffering and self-sacrifice, but as she accompanies Jesus on His path throughout Holy Week, she begins to realize why Jesus had to die.

This book is an easy read for a teenager, and is a real page turner. I read it in just a couple of sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. It would make a perfect Holy Week read aloud to enjoy as a family. Even children as young as 9 or 10 can get a lot out of this book, especially as a read aloud. Because the book follows Scripture closely, there are many aspects of the Passion to talk about as you read it as a family.

This review was written as part of the Catholic Book Reviewer program from the Catholic Company. Visit the Catholic Company to find more information on Awakening.

Love & War: By John and Stasti Eldredge

"Marriage is fabulously hard." Love and War

No one was there to tell me that "Marriage is fabulously hard", 23 years ago, when as a 20 year old girl I entered into wedded bliss with the love of my life.

But, as discussed in this book, my young groom and I entered into our married life with the make-believe vision that love was enough.

As my husband and I have learned throughout the years "we" can do nothing---only with God

can a marriage work the way it was intended too.

In Love and War, John and Stasi Eldredge share very candidly about their own struggles throughout their more than 25 years of marriage. They discuss how we all come into adulthood and marriage flawed because of the sin of Adam and it is God we need to help us live the married life that was meant to be.

We learn in this book that God had a specific plan for the way marriage was meant to be, but the enemy is always there, trying to destroy what is holy and good. To change ourselves into the holy men and women God wants us to be, the Eldredges' suggest:

1. Find life in God

2. Deal with your brokeness

3. Learn to shut down the spiritual attacks that come against your marriage.

I enjoyed the real life stories and the many Biblical quotes woven throughout the book.

I would suggest Love and War to any engaged couples, newlyweds, or long time married couples. It is a book that can be read and re-read, finding new wisdom with each reading.

To check out more information on this book, go to http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385529808

This book was provided free of charge for review by WaterBrook Multnomah

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

I won this new version of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King illustrated by Gail deMarcken in an online giveaway.
We just read it, and, I am embarrased to admit, that I have never read, listened too, or watched anything about "the Nutcracker".

We just loved this new picture book.

The illustrations are just gorgeous and Gracie has been looking at them for the hour since we finished reading.
I planned on reading this in 2 or 3 sittings because it is long for a picture book, but the kids wouldn't let me stop--even my 3 1/2 year old sat and listened to the whole book for over an hour--(although my 4 year old played nearby, coming over to look at the pictures during the exciting parts)
I am sooooo glad I didn't put this away with the Christmas books until next year!!

Saint of the Day (Sixth Edition) - A Book Review

We have recently had the opportunity to review the book Saint of The Day:Sixth Resived Edition through the Catholic Company Reviewer program.

This sixth edition, published in 2009, includes some of the most recent saints and blesseds in the Catholic Church, including, Teresa of Calcutta, Martin and Zelia Guerin, Gianna Beretta Molla and Damien of Molokai.

We have been using this in our homeschool as part of our morning prayer time, when we read the short
biography of the saint of the day. It is a little disappointing that everyday does not have an entry. It is something the kids look foreward too, and when a day is "empty" they feel a little let down.

Also included in each entry is a short comment and quote section pertaining to the saint of the day.

I think this part is my favorite aspect of the book. These comments and quotes offer a great chance to reflect privately on these saints as we go about our daily lives, while we strive to live as the the saints lived.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Saint of the Day (Revised 6th Edition).

The Scarecrow's Dance-by Jane Yolen

"The Scarecrow has always stood tall and straight, watching over the corn. Then one magical autumn night, he begins to stir. Free from his post, the scarecrow skips through the fields and leaps past the barn, dancing under the moon. But when he hears a young boy's prayer for the farm, the scarecrow comes to understand where he belongs, and what he -- only he -- can do.
From award winners Jane Yolen and Bagram Ibatoulline, this is a moving tale about questioning your place and discovering yourself."

The illustrations and beautiful rhyming text has made this a favorite of the kids and adults alike.

The little ones have been looking through this on their own, enjoying the illustrations, and the big kids are having fun reading this over and over.

"He shrugged his shoulders,

And a grin

Just like a corn row,

And as thin.

Broke out along

His painted face.

He gave a leap--

And left his place."

This will an autumn favorite from now on.....

Christians Courageous---A Book Review

Today's guest reviewer is my son Daniel. Daniel is 16 and plans on entering the seminary next fall. He is a voracious reader and I knew that this was the perfect book for him to review. Please keep Dan and his vocation in your prayers.

Christians Courageous, by Aloysius Roche is a very wonderful book. It depicts the lives of 14 heroes of the Catholic Faith. The tales are spread out from the Roman persecution to early English monasticism to Hawaii at the end of the 1880's. It shows the courage Catholics have shown throughout their history to bring the message of Christ to all people. These 14 men would climb to the top of the world in order to preach the Gospel, and one actually did!

I very much enjoyed the book. However, the book lays claim to being written for youthful readers. While the story structures are clearly toward that level of education, the vocabulary and the amount of knowledge needed to enjoy the book, as much as it deserves, is more of an early high school level. This being said, as a read aloud this book would keep most young listeners on the edge of their seats. It is perfectly suited for a read aloud. Each story is short enough to finish in one sitting, and most are jam packed with action to keep young people interested for the time it takes to read. I would recommentd this book for any person from about twelve years and up, but younger that that if they do not have to work through the book themselves. Reviewer: Daniel Collins

This review is written as part of the Catholic Book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Christians Courageous.

Graced and Gifted---a book review

Graced and Gifted: Biblical Wisdon for the Homemaker's Heart by Kimberly Hahn is the second book in a series of Bible studies based on Proverbs 31.

Written in six parts, Kimberly Hahn shows us how to incorporate the virtues of the woman of Proverbs 31 into our everyday lives as homemakers, wives, and mothers.

Each part of the book also includes a chapter on each of the seven sacraments. I love what Kimberly Hahn says about the sacraments as they pertain to a homemakers life in the introduction of the book. "The sacraments are not what we do for God but what God does for us. They are the means by which the Holy Spirit makes up for what we lack and gives us all we need to be faithful. They do not make us saints, but they make it possible for us to become saints." And for me, this is what I am striving for and need every grace available for help.

This book would be perfect for a women's book study and includes discussion questions for six sessions, in an appendix in the back of the book.

While reading Graced and Gifted I I was greatly encouraged and inspired by the way the role of homemaker was given the importance it deserves. I came to realize that the day to day tasks of a homemaker provides me with many channels of grace, and asking Our Lord for this grace helps many overwhelming days much more manageable. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this, regarding grace: " When we feed, clothe and contribute to a shelter that is peaceful, beautiful and orderly for our family, by the grace of God and with the gift of faith, we are walking in the good works God has prepared for us. It is grace from beginning to end as we cooperate with the gifts we have been given. To live by grace means that we admit how weak we are and how much we need His strength so that we can do these good works."

I highly recommend this book to every homemaker, whether you are strictly at home, out in the workforce, a mom to one blessing or to many blessings, there is something for everyone to encourage us on the path to building the best domestic church we can as we are filled with the "Gift of Grace" from God.

This review was written as part of the Catholic Book reviewer program from the Catholic Company. Visit the Catholic Company to find more information on Graced and Gifted: Bibilical Wisdom for the Homemaker's Heart.

What I am reading.....

I am half-way through----what a remarkable man and a wonderfully written book.

It is definitely worth everyone's time, and is especially appealling to teenage boys. My sons, Pat-22 and Dan-16 say it is the best book they have ever read.

Diary of a Worm- a nature project

Diary of a Worm is the favorite book of our youngest kids right now. I don't know if it is the gardening we have been doing or the fishing, but we are definitely on a "worm kick". This very fun book is written in diary form, featuring the writings of a young worm as he learns about the trials of being a worm.
Our favorite entry is June 15
"My older sister thinks she's so pretty. I told her that no matter how much time she spends looking in the mirror, her face will always look just like her rear end. Spider thought that was really funny. Mom did not." The illustrations are also just wonderful.
Of course an activity had to be done. So, none other than me (Mommy), reverted back to my childhood when my family and I would catch nightcrawlers my the bucket fulls to sell to fishermen. We were good--it takes a special skill to catch nightcrawlers, they are super fast and hard to pull out of their holes--but we would get hundreds on a rainy night--this night I caught 6--I am losing my touch.

We took a big pickle jar and filled it loosely dirt. We then wrapped the jar in black paper (worms like the dark) I love Gracie's face in the picture above---priceless....

We added a little brown sugar for food, and then some lettuce leaves. We put the worms in the jar, popped holes in the lid---and waiting.

You can see one little worm peeking out of the dirt at the top of the jar.

After three days, we peeked under the black paper. We saw all sorts of worm tunnels around the edge of the jar, but the darn worms were too fast when "blinded by the light"
and you could just catch sight of them running for cover.

It was a real neat project. After three days, I would like to say we let the worms run free, but I have to admit---we went fishing---we are county folk after all........

Along our path to heaven

sometimes something comes along that can help us on our journey.
I was blessed to receive the month of May's Magnificat magazine. I am sure most of you are familiar with this pocket sized "daily prayer companion", but if you are not, it contains the daily Liturgy along with many inspirational daily prayers and meditations.
In a very busy family such as ours, it is nice to be able to find, in one spot, very beautiful morning and evening prayers.
Each day contains a medition and also a look into the lives of a saint. Some of these saints we have read about are men and women we hadn't "met" before--so through the Magnificat, we have learned about some new lives of which we can strive to copy on our path to Heaven.
I, myself, love the intersessions offered in both the daily morning prayers and evening prayers. I use these intersessions as my personal prayers during the day, trying to keep them in mind as I go about my day, trying to offer small trials to God.

It is a little expensive, but well worth the money for the amount of information and inspiration contained within its pages. You can order it for the same price from the Catholic Company as from the publisher.

Hey, Mama Goose--a book review

From School Library Journal:

"When the old woman who lives in the shoe decides she and her kids are too cramped, she calls on the local real estate agent, Mama Goose, who suggest she move into Snow White and the seven dwarfs' dwelling--they're staying at Rapunzel's. And so the romp begins..."

We had all sorts of fun with this book today!! It is written in rhyme with fun illustrations.
The four youngest kids 3-9 all enjoyed it--over and over. It was especially fun when the littlest kids would yell out the fairy tale characters as they appeared in the story.

The ending is very sweet when the Old Lady that Lives in a Shoe, and all her children, realize that there is "No place like a shoe" even if it is a tight squeeze for a large family.

It sounds like my house!!

The Cobweb Curtain-and craft

Last year we read the story of The Cobweb Christmas and then made a simple craft with the kids.

This year we got The Cobweb Curtain from the library. It is the story of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt and the spider that consealed them from soldiers as they hid in a cave. It is a great story that we all enjoyed.

After reading, we looked back at the spider webs we made last year and Mark remembered reading about how to make a spider web from the book 100 Things You Should Know About Insects and Spiders.
We tried to follow the directions...

We taped down the straight strings to begin the web. This went fine,

then things got way too messy and a little too difficult for a mother and 4 children under the age of 9 to do. You are supposed to dip the string into the glitter glue and then place it in a circular pattern around the web. This sounded easy--it stuck to everything, our fingers, the table, hair, and small children.

I stopped this technique and used a toothpick to spread the glue where I wanted it. (I should have just squirted the glue out of the bottle, but it was in a bowl because we put the string into it at first.) This way it was easy to place the string onto the cardboard using the plastic end of a paintbrush. After the string was down, I used clear "school glue" to cover the strings some more so that when it dried it would be very secure.

The next day, I was able to take the tape off the cardboard circle and trim the stiffened string. I then let the littlest among us paint over the whole web to give it more sparkle. We used my new favorite glittery glue paint.

It is so nice and shimmery. It would be much prettier if we had painted the cardboard black. (Maybe next time.) You can't really tell from the picture how is shines. We trimmed it and added a paper clip for hanging. I wasn't really going to put it on the Christmas tree, but Mark insisted, remember, it was his craft idea. In fact, it goes quite nicely on our almost totally homemade tree. In this picture you can see part of a borax snowflake, a popcorn string, a paper chain, pipe cleaners with pony beads and part of a handsewn ornament--very child friendly!

The Christmas Barn-by C.L. Davis

We have found a wonderful read-aloud to enjoy this Christmas season. I am not sure where I first heard about it, but I and the kids were greatly pleased with the true to life humor and hardship found within its pages. Especially enjoyable was the fun the characters have as a close knit family. There were quite a few places in the story where the kids were laughing out loud, and that is a real good thing when reading to alot of different ages.

From School Library Journal:
Gr 4-6- Roxie Dockery and her family always look forward to Christmas, no matter how humble. Life in Appalachia was difficult even before the Great Depression swept over the country, but there was always a little candy and fruit, a Christmas tree at the church, and the grandparents coming for a visit. This year, though, a snowstorm leaves the family trapped on their mountain. Next, a huge tree crashes down on their house, leaving Baby John with a broken arm and the entire family homeless. However, the resourceful Dockerys move themselves into the barn and work together to create a new home and a Christmas celebration, which turns out to be the best yet. There's a lot of fetchin' and tendin' and the like, which gets a little tiresome, but vivid descriptions of everyday life and a believable, funny, and-above all-loving family make this a pleasant holiday read.-M. A.

We all definitely recommend this book as a must read for the Christmas season.

Mark's Dr Dolittle Book Review

My mom finished reading The Story of Dr. Dolittle out loud to us and we all loved it, especially me.

It is the story about Dr. Dolittle going across seas, fighting off pirates, and going through dangerous lands.

He went across seas to Africa to help the monkies not be sick anymore. He knew they were sick because he could talk to animals.

He was thrown in jail twice when he was in Africa by the king of Jollikinki.

He had many adventures getting home.

I know that you would love this story, so go to the library near you. Go straight to the front desk and ask for Dr Dolittle.

Thank-you, Mark (8) , for dictating this wonderful review of this great story that we all enjoyed together.

Seven Silly Eaters-Book Fun

Today we revisited the book The Seven Silly Eaters- by Mary Ann Hoberman. It was recently discussed over at the 4Real forum, and having forgotten about it, I was so pleased at how much we all enjoyed this fun story.

Be sure to to check out Mary Ann Hoberman's website to read about this wonderful book, and the many other children's books she has written. The illustrations, by Marla Frazee, are so amusing the kids kept remarking how much the pictures in the book resembled our own home.

Included on the Mary Ann Hoberman's website is a recipe for Mrs. Peters' birtday cake. It is an unusual cake recipe calling for lemon juice, rolled oats, applesauce-all ingredients from the story.

We had a great time making the cake, but we all were unsure of how the taste of the final outcome would be.

It came out of the oven, smelling delicious. I put a simple confectionery sugar glaze over the top. After "we" put on the glaze, I tried to get a picture. Take one is above.
Take two.
Take three.
Take four--this one came out kind of cute, even though they are looking at something else.
The final taste test results: absolutely delicious. Even my 21 year old chef snitched a bite on the way out the door-stopped-and remarked, "What is in this?" He then took a whole piece.