2016: The Review

At last!  We come to the last night of the year, the last blog post of 2016.  It has been a good, good year; and I am filled to overflowing with gratitude!

As always, I like to look back on the blog designs that I've used.  You may notice that there are only 11, instead of the customary 12.  ;-)  As it turns out, I never did get around to switching my May look to a different one for June; but that's OK: I sure did like that May header photo with all my most precious relationships in it and didn't mind looking at it twice as long as normal.  

Another tradition of mine is to keep track of the books I read, so here is my list for 2016.

January
1. Behind Nazi Lines: My Father's Heroic Quest to Save 149 World War II POWs - Andrew Gerow HOdges Jr. and Denise George - A man at our church referred to this book during a lesson before communion, and it interested Josiah so much that he borrowed the book...and then I read it.  :)  It's a wonderful example of the difference that ONE person can make, if he or she is willing to take a risk and stand for what is right.  There are two specific instances in which the main character offers to substitute himself to save the life of another--the first was for an English officer, and the second was for a German officer (the enemy!).  It's easy to see how this can tie into communion, as we think about the substitution that Jesus did for us.
2. The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen - Tosca Lee - I saw an online recommendation for Lee's book Havah and wondered if my local library had it...they did not, but they did have this one...I enjoyed it, although you can guess that with the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon being two of the main characters, it (although not graphic) didn't exactly hold up a high standard of purity!...so little is written about the Queen of Sheba that the author had to do a lot of stretching to fill in the blanks, but overall a fun read
3. Savage Will: The Daring Escape of Americans Trapped Behind Nazi Lines - Timothy M. Gay - My love for non-fiction continues; real life events are fascinating!  The episode described in this book was completely unknown to me before I began to read, and I enjoyed it very much.  I will admit that there were two things about the book that made it a little difficult: one is the sheer complexity of the political situation in Albania and the unfamiliarity of most Americans (certainly myself included!) with the names and groups mentioned in the book.  And secondly, I'm not sure if the author is trying to be highly original in his choice of words or if it just happens to be the way he naturally writes, but there were quite a few times when I sort of shook my head as I thought, "Why did he choose that unfamiliar, or unnecessarily obtuse, word?"  Besides those things, the book was captivating!
4. I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan - Nancy Reagan - I hadn't yet started kindergarten when Ronald Reagan became president, so I knew nothing about him besides his role as president.  This tender book showed a much different side of him, and I liked it very much.  I expected it to be basically just his letters, but Nancy included many remembrances that brought meaning to the creative and incredibly loving things that he wrote.  Very enjoyable!  This quote from one of his letters stood out to me the most: "But what is really important is that having fulfilled our responsibilities to our offspring we haven't been careless with the treasure that is ours--namely what we are to each other."
5. Keep Moving and Other Tips and Truths about Aging - Dick Van Dyke - This book is as fun and light-hearted as Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins!  :)  The serious thing that I most want to remember is this question that he recommends asking oneself: "What do I need to do next so that I don't worry about not having done it?"

February
6. The Contender - Robert Lipsyte - Josiah read this and then told me I should read it, too, so I did.  :)  I always enjoy the camaraderie that comes from having read the same books as my children have.
7. The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - Ree Drummond - I should begin by saying that I, unlike many of my fellow bloggers, am not a reader of The Pioneer Woman blog.  (I'm not much of a bandwagon person, so reading a blog that popular doesn't appeal much to me.  Not that there's anything wrong with Ree's blog, but I'd rather read the blog of someone I have some kind of relationship with, not just a famous, talented somebody who will never even know I exist.)  But not being a reader of her blog didn't hinder my understanding or enjoyment of her book.  It was entertaining, but I did get tired of her descriptions of how physically attracted she was to her future (at the time) husband.  OK, we know he had strong arms; stop talking about them!!  But her self-deprecating humor is effective, and her descriptions of aspects of ranching life were interesting to read.
8. The Great and Terrible Quest - Margaret Lovett - Josiah read this as part of his study of world history, then suggested that I read it, too.  I enjoyed it!

March and April
~ Apparently, I didn't finish reading any books during these two months--not my normal pattern, that's for sure!  March was such an incredibly busy month (because of the puppies and a number of visitors we had here in our home), that I'm not surprised I didn't finish any then; but I'm not sure what happened to April!  I was doing some reading--parts of longer books, as well as reading some books to the kids for school (which I never count in this record)--but somehow I didn't finish any books in my personal reading.

May
9. Master Cornhill - Eloise Jarvis McGraw - Another book recommended by Josiah after he read it for school.  I thought the author did a fantastic job of including TONS of accurate historical details which made it fascinating to read.  The Great Plague and the Great Fire of London are vividly etched in my mind now because of this book.

June
10. Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom - This book was on the shelf in the guesthouse where we stayed during a homeschool convention, and I read it in two evenings after the kids had gone to bed.  Thought-provoking and sweet.

July
11. Dirt: The Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House - edited by Mindy Lewis - I read this on a whim, but ended up liking it much more than I imagined I would.  I did have to laugh a little at all these essays about, in essence, our relationship with dirt; who knew housekeeping was such a deep topic?  :)  Here are some parts I especially liked...  "Our housekeeping styles express who we are on the most intimate psychological level.  In cleaning (much as in writing) we make sense of our lives, sort our messes, restore order to our psyches, work out our anger and frustration, rediscover the beauty in our lives, and express our love for (and resentment toward) others.  Housecleaning is the daily/weekly/monthly--or in some cases, quarterly, semiannual, or way-long-overdue--necessary ritual of restoration.  For many, it's an ongoing, constant occupation; for others, an easily overlooked distraction."  Oooo, I like that phrase: "necessary ritual of restoration"!  Another place...  "...making a home wasn't just a menial chore, it was an honorable vocation.  It was more than keeping things clean.  It was the creation of 'yourness.' A space that was special and yours, where you could find your things...  It's what allowed you to own the space around you.  There's something to be said for the ability to make order out of chaos.  It is, after all, how we survive in the world.  It's what writers do with ideas--make orderly arguments out of fragmentary thoughts; it's what scientists do with nature--find general principles to make sense of the world."  And another spot...  "Lately, though, I enjoy cleaning up, because the kitchen is a finite area responsive to concentrated work...Order pleases me enormously, but it is a pleasure I do not wish to work to create, nor does any one else in my household.  As a result, home is chaotic...I never understood that a neat and clean home requires constant, daily work.  I passively wait for the miracle of neatness to occur, and it does not.  I resent that after cleaning and polishing my kitchen, the same thing has to be repeated the very next time a meal is cooked."
12. I Kissed Dating Goodbye - Joshua Harris - I read this to get some ideas for how to help my children (particularly Josiah at this stage, but the others will be ready for this before long!) navigate guy/girl relationships  :)
13. One Second After - William Forstchen - Josiah read this and urged me to read it.  I could see how it had absolutely gripped him while he was reading it, and I felt that same intense emotion as I read it.  It prompted me to, for the first time ever, consider asking Jeff to buy more bullets because maybe we don't have enough ammunition!  :)  He reassured me that we have plenty and we really don't need to buy any more right now.  :)
14. One Year After - William Forstchen - It took me a little longer to be as enthralled with this one as with the first, but then it caught me and I was hooked.  I look forward to reading the third one when it comes out!

August
15. I Am David - Anne Holm - OUTSTANDING book! We got this from the library for Josiah to read as part of his history curriculum through Sonlight (an aside: we have found SO MANY great books through Sonlight!), but I actually picked it up first and was immediately captured by it (as was Josiah when it was his turn to read it).  It's a simple read, but extremely profound and moving.  I highly recommend this.
16. Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal - Joel Salatin
17. Two Kisses for Maddy - Matthew Logelin - I was walking down an aisle in the dollar store, of all places, when I saw this book for sale and decided on impulse to buy it.  I had a vague recollection of hearing the gist of the story some time ago but was interested in reading more.  The beauty of the love expressed in the book and the sorrow of the tragedy were heart-moving, but there was so much profanity in it (the author is blatantly unapologetic about that) that I found it hard to truly appreciate it like I would have otherwise.

At this point, I completely lost track of when I read the following books.  I ended up piling them up on a bookshelf in my kitchen and not taking the time to write them down when I finished them.  But at some point during the second half of this year, I read...
18. Jake's Tower - Elizabeth Laird - suggested by Josiah - deals with some tough realities, but handles it well
19. The Puppy Diaries: Raising a Dog Named Scout - Jill Abramson - just for fun, because I love golden retrievers  :)
20. Rain Reign - Ann Martin - another one suggested by Josiah - EXCELLENT book - I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to see the world through the eyes of someone with autism
21. My Heart Lies South - Elizabeth Borton de Trevino - fun read
22. The Thread that Runs So True - Jesse Stuart - I really, really enjoyed this - made me realize again how much the world of education has changed during the past century - if I were a teacher, I would read this book regularly for inspiration!
23. Joyous Peggy - Lillian Grace Copp
24. The Waiting - Cathy LaGrow with Cindy Coloma - true story - absolutely gripping - I highly recommend - this book isn't preachy at all, but almost without even trying, it sure makes a strong case against abortion in cases of rape
25. Keeping Score - Linda Sue Park - Josiah read this and was impressed, especially because of the way it explained the Korean War to him better than he had ever heard it before! so I read it, too  :) ...it also helped me to understand the passion that some people (but not me) have for professional sports
26. Bonanza Girl - Patricia Beatty - another one that Josiah read first
27. To Have and to Hold - Mary Johnston - really enjoyable, not just because of the entertaining story and the glimpse into life in Virginia when the colony was in its infancy, but also because of the brilliant word choices - the plot was a little far-fetched at times, but the language was a delight to read - it made me want to read it again, just to revel in the combination of words this author masterfully used!

I already have a couple of good books started for 2017, so it won't be long until I start jotting things down on my new list.  I wonder what my list will look like by December 31, 2017.  :)

As curious as I am about what the next 365 days will hold, I really don't want to know what's coming around the bend.  I've learned, as I've gotten older, that foreknowledge is a dangerous thing; and I'd rather take each day as it comes, without carrying the burden of knowing what is ahead.  Rather than knowing what this new year holds, I'm much more interested in knowing Who holds this new year!  :)

Welcome, 2017!!

On Christmas Day in the Morning (and Afternoon, Too!)

Since Christmas landed on a Sunday this year, we didn't sleep in too late that morning.

But who am I kidding?  The kids wouldn't have wanted us to sleep in too late anyway.  ;-)

The first gift to be opened was the one Jeff gave me: the Bible I had asked for.  After he gave it to me, he immediately took it away again!  The nerve!  ;-)  But it was so he could read the Christmas story from it before we proceeded with the rest of the gifts.  I was happy that the first words read from my new Bible told the story of the most meaningful birth that ever occurred!

Shav found a good position in which to listen to Jeff read.  :)

And then the gift-opening began in earnest.  I'm going to try to keep my comments to a minimum--an endeavor which sometimes proves too difficult for me.  ;-)

I gave Jeff this gigantic gift bag with a very special present inside.

A garden hose.  ;-)

He was thrilled, I'm sure.  ;-)

One of the best traditions we have for Christmas is having each of the children give gifts to all of their siblings (with the exception of Benjamin, of course).  It does take extra time to arrange for numerous shopping trips so each child can buy gifts without any of the other kids around, but it is SO WORTH IT.  This year, I sort of sat back with an inward smile and watched as the kids came up with unique gift ideas for each other, then had the fun of going to get the gifts and wrap them, then wait with such intense anticipation until the gifts they were giving would be opened.  I KNOW that their Christmas joy was heightened tremendously because they gave gifts and didn't just receive them.

This year, not only did Josiah and David use their own money--earned through working at the barber shop--to buy gifts for their siblings; Tobin did, too!  He had conscientiously saved his money and then took it along when Jeff and he went shopping, spending a grand total of $46 for his siblings' gifts.  For an eight-year-old, that's a significant amount of money to work for, save up, and spend on others!  I was very proud of him.  :)

Shav also had saved up some money and used some for the gifts he gave, but we allowed him to just pay a portion of the costs of the gifts and we covered the rest.  Soon enough, I'm sure, he'll reach the stage of doing it all on his own.

As I look through these pictures, I notice--as I always do--how the kids crowd together, no matter who's opening the gift, because they are all excited to see what it is.  But I also paid attention this time to the expressions on the faces of the peripheral characters in the shots.  Many times the face of the giver is lighted up with excitement as he or she watches the receiver open the package.  It's so much fun.  :)

Some of these pictures are blurry--there was not a lot of natural light that morning because it was fairly early and the sky was overcast; plus, there was a lot of quick motion as our kids bounced around excitedly.  :)  But I included some blurry pictures because they still captured moments I want to remember...like Shav giving Tobin a hug after opening his gift--a remote-controlled car--from him.  :)

OK, Davene, time to do what you said and keep comments to a minimum!!!  ;-)

Moriah gave this gift--a magnetic sand timer--to Josiah; and I love watching her face in these pictures.  When the boys are still looking at the item, she is looking at Josiah to see his reaction.  Sweet.  :)

Besides a garden hose, I also gave Jeff a sweater.  Super exciting.  ;-)

We gave each of the children (except Benjamin) a beach towel this year.  No surprise, Tobin's featured a horse.  :)  Shav's was a Star Wars character, Moriah's was a pretty sunset/palm trees scene, Josiah's was a wolf (his favorite animal), and David's (as will be seen in later pictures) was an American flag with an eagle.  I'm not perfect in this area by any stretch of the imagination, but I do strive to give gifts that will be useful and appreciated for a long time, not simply tossed away when interest is lost.  Beach towels fall well within the bounds of useful gifts.  :)

These kinds of ecstatic expressions make giving gifts at Christmas so delightful!  :)

Tobin, kind soul that he is, was the only one of the kids who got a gift for Benjamin; in fact, Jeff and I didn't give Benjamin anything either, except for a couple of Christmas ornaments to begin his collection that he can take with him someday when he leaves home (a million years from now, so don't get any ideas about growing up too fast, you hear me, Benjamin??). ;-)  Tobin chose a rolling tiger with little balls that pop in the clear body of the tiger when it is pushed along.  It was so thoughtful of him to include his littlest brother in the Christmas joy!

Hugs like this = the sweetest kind of reward for giving a gift.

When we began the festivities, Benjamin was still in bed; but before long, I went upstairs and got him up so he could come down and be a part of it.  It didn't feel right to not have him there.  Having him perched in the highchair watching us while he munched on some breakfast felt much, much better.  :)

This was when Jeff was opening the ornament from Ryan and Sarah.  It was right after this that I started crying.  ;-)

For some inexplicable reason, Shav LOVES snakes.  I have no idea how he could possibly be related to me.  ;-)  One of his big requests was a new stuffed snake for Christmas, so Jeff ordered this one for him, and Shav was very happy.

You might begin to notice Shav lying on the couch in the background of some of these pictures.  He started feeling sick part of the way through the gift-opening, so he laid down and held the ice pack, and that seemed to help him feel better.  He never did get truly sick that day, which was a huge relief, but for a little while in the morning, he just didn't feel very good.

The boys have been really interested in various kinds of Rubik's cubes for the past seven or eight months, so a few different kinds were given as gifts, including this hollow one.

David gave Tobin a backpack, and it was such a nice backpack that David really would have liked to keep it for himself!  He was able to part with it though--ah, such sacrificial love.  ;-)

Tobin really wanted a neck pillow so he'll be comfortable during long car rides, so Josiah got him that.

Here comes Benjamin!  :)

Josiah and David went together to get Shav a pretty nice LEGO set.  What's Christmas without new LEGO pieces floating around?  :)

Here's one of those blurry pictures which captures an element of the joy we were experiencing that morning.  :)

Jeff got the boys a small set of weights, and they've been having a really fun time using those during this past week.

After the gifts were opened and as we were cleaning up things and trying to set the house in order again before we left for our church service and then had guests arrive, Benjamin did something wonderful: he pulled himself up for the second time--in this case, using the dishwasher to get himself up on his feet!  :)

It was a Christmas gift for Mommy!  :)

Our church had a slightly shortened service, so we hurried to get ourselves ready and out the door.  We may or may not have been a few minutes late to it.  ;-)

After that, we came home to get ready for an afternoon of feasting and fellowship.  Of course, my mother was here, and also our good friend Doris who lives at Bridgewater Home, too.

Benjamin found a good spot to perch on her walker.  :)

We ended up having 23 people here; and since we can't fit 23 people around our kitchen table (and we don't have a dining room table because we don't have a dining room!) ;-), the overflow crowd had to sit in the living room to eat.  :)  Nobody complained loudly enough for me to hear, so I'm going to assume everyone was content with where they ended up.  :)

Kevin the Painter was here, like he always is for Christmas (and any other time he can finagle an invitation for dinner).  ;-)

The kids played Pie Face after lunch; and as you can imagine, the living room got quite noisy.  ;-)  Unlike the night before, I didn't play this time.  :)

The grandmas sat back and watched it all.  :)

And so did the men.  :)

Todd is one of Benjamin's buddies.  :)

Amanda is one of Moriah's buddies.  :)

It was warm enough that the kids played outside for a while; but as the afternoon wore on, they settled inside for a game of Clue.

Meanwhile, Jeff instigated a rousing game of Dictionary, which may sound boring to the uninformed, but it's actually quite hilarious.  I'm no good at the game because I never can keep a straight face when I need to!  :)

And so Christmas Day drew to a close, filled with the joys of friends and family gathered round, delicious food being consumed, the sights and sounds of the season filling our ears and hearts, and a multitude of expressions of love being passed from one person to another.

Sometimes I wonder what Jesus would think of our celebrations in honor of His birth.  I picture Him as a guest around our table: would He like our favorites, like dill beans and cranberry salad and Oreo ice cream dessert?  Would He enjoy our games, like Pie Face and Dictionary?  Of course, that whole omniscience thing would mean that He would always win a game like Dictionary.  ;-)

I hope He would know that all that we do--all the warmth and coziness, all the joy and laughter, all the gifts and kind words, all the love we share--is because of Him and from Him.  Without Christ, Christmas is just an empty day.  With Him, it is exceedingly abundantly FULL.