Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Besides the Bible, of course...THIS is my all-time favorite.

Currently reading...

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. -Martin Luther King, Jr.
And then sometimes there's....

Grace's Blog

My Grace now has her own blog. (Again.) Please let me know if you'd like us to invite you to see it. She posted about last Saturday when we went with her best friend, Jayne and Jayne's mom, to meet an author of the Lanie- American Girl books. It was fun to take her book and have it signed and talk to the author about being a writer. She also had a wonderful presentation about giving books to kids in Ethiopia. Grace & Jayne are holding their Julie dolls in this picture. They bought raffle tickets to win a Lanie doll. After we hadn't won, and were about to leave, Grace was holding the ticket stubs and asked...."Think we could get our money back?" :)

15 Authors

The Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Choose fifteen authors who've influenced you and who will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can think of in no more than 15 minutes.

1. God - and all the men He inspired to write His word.

2. Philip Yancey- What's So Amazing About Grace?

3. Kay Arthur - Lord....series

4. A.W. Tozer - The Pursuit of God, The Attributes of God, and more...

5. James Bryan (Jim) Smith - Embracing the Love of God, An Arrow Pointing to Heaven

6. Frank Peretti - This Present Darkness and sequels

7. Elizabeth George - A Woman After God's Own Heart, A Woman's High Calling

8. Pam Farrel - A Woman God Can Use & others

9. Shel Silverstein - Favorites as a kid, and to read to my kids now....so randomly silly.

10. Francine Rivers - Redeeming Love and others

11. C.S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia ...read all aloud to kids

12. Stormie Omartian - The Power of a Praying....series (Wife & Parent)

13. Kevin Leman - Birth Order Book, Making Children Mind.. & other parenting books

14. James Dobson - Bringing Up Boys and Bringing Up Girls & Strong-Willed Child

15. Ruth Myers - 31 Days of Praise, 31 Days of Prayer....beautiful, transparent praises & prayers that lead to deeper intimacy with God....a must-have for anyone desiring to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Our Team

We have always believed in strongly encouraging the "team effort", as a family. We do life as a team. We all carry the same last name, so this bonds us together and makes us a team. As a member of the Martin team, you are expected to represent us well in public, showing respect, not only for yourself, but for the other members of your team, especially the team manager/aka Dad. For more on this concept, my friend, Brenna, a fellow PW & SPARK Ministry sister, wrote this book, Coach Mom: 7 Strategies for Organizing Your Family into an All-Star Team.

Curious

Moriah's new favorite book to read is Curious George.

I'm curious to know how this classic story for children includes George...smoking. a. pipe. Yes. A pipe.

"After a good meal and a good pipe George felt very tired."

Um how do I explain that to my toddler?

Then he accidentally calls the fire department, while playing with the phone. And for THAT, he goes to PRISON.

Then. He escapes. He escapes prison by walking on electricity lines.

Curious.

Luke's Book List 09-10

The Whipping Boy

D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths

Detectives in Togas

The Trojan War

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

The Trojan Horse

King Midas and the Magic Touch

King Arthur: The Sword and the Stone

Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger

Robin Hood

Stone Fox

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

The Hobbit

Sequels to The Lightning Thief:

The Sea of Monsters

The Titan's Curse

The Battle of Labyrinth

The Mighty Twelve (greek gods & goddesses)

Kingdom's Dawn - A Riveting Medieval Parallel to the Bible

Kingdom's Hope - Book 2 in the series above

King George: What Was His Problem?

Pygmalion

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Grace's Book List 09-10

Stage Fright on a Summer Night- Magic Treehouse

The Knight at Dawn

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie

Jake Drake, Know-It-All

The Josefina Story Quilt

Sarah Whitcher’s Story

Pony in a Pumpkin Patch

Labrador in the Leaves

Meet Molly: An American Girl

Molly's Surprise: An American Girl Christmas Story

The Christmas Nutcracker

Chocolate Fever

Rebecca to the Rescue: American Girl

Molly Learns a Lesson: An American Girl Winter Story

Shoeshine Girl

Tornado

Ramona the Brave

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Ramona and Her Mother

Ramona the Pest

Henry Huggins

Changes for Molly: An American Girl Spring Story

Oliver Twist

Beezus & Ramona

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Alice in Wonderland

Resting

Today was the first time in 14 years of being married to a minister, that I actually "rested" on the Sabbath Day. I mean really rested. I've taken naps after church before. I don't mean that kind of rest. I didn't even nap today. I just....rested.

Brad has been off this week, taking a bit of a rest from work. Planting a church is hard work. My husband is a hard worker, no matter what he does. He can't put just half of his heart into anything, but even more so when it comes to His passion for leading people to Jesus. He still did a wedding, led a couple of prayer meetings and had quite a few "phone meetings", so it wasn't complete rest, but I'm really proud of him for seeing the need to stop and stay home more. He's done things around our house that I've had on a list since we moved here in September. For instance, I now once again have my beloved porch swing. Ahhhh....bring on the sweet tea! I also have a new mailbox and lovely flowers planted around it. (I did the flowers...part of my restful Sunday.)

The other day he sent me a document via email. It was simple. It just said....

Fills Drains

....Followed by a series of lines below. He has been reading "Leading on Empty", and explained to me that he wanted to know what fills me and what drains me. Once we have it figured out, he said we'll go out on a date and discuss it.

Can I just stop here and say....Wow! I love that man! I love that he reads books like this and thinks of me and wants to work on our marriage and wants to spend time with me....*pause for daydreamy love montage set to Air Supply's "Even the Nights Are Better"*

Okay, I'm back.

So then I read a blogger friend's post about this book and it inspired me to list these things right here on this here blog! Susanne's post will also explain the book mores since she has read it, and I have not.

Fills Me:

• Time with God
• Reading
• Singing
• Exercising
• Being Outdoors
• Free time
• One-on-One Time w/loved ones
• Blogging/Writing
• Creativity
• Shopping
• Intellectual/Spiritual Conversations
• Being Inspired
• Giving Advice
• Laughter, serious belly laughter
• Sleep

Drains Me:

• Being a Leader
• Trying to stay organized
• Housework/Unending tasks
• Things that don't seem to ever get checked off the list
• Nagging people/Nagging thoughts
• Crowds
• Expectations
• People who Judge
• Money Frustrations
• Schedules
• Manipulators
• Ignorance
• Deadlines
• Trying to have a conversation with people who mumble
• Negativity or "Debbie Downers"

So what fills you? I hope to rest more often with the things that fill me. Mostly, I hope to continue to be filled with and rest in the love of Christ, so that this list of things that fill me become the icing on the cake, and make dealing with the things that drain me....like buttah.

Eph.3:17-19

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Summer Book Wishlist

You know we love books at the Martin house! It's always fun to look back in the school year at the books we've read. It seems though that, by summer, I'm ready to read some books that are actually just for me, so here I'll list some books I'm looking forward to reading this summer:

First, I need to finish reading-- The Good and Beautiful God by Jim Smith, the Chaplain at Friends.

I also want to finish-- Heaven by Randy Alcorn--like I said, it's a BIG book and I can only digest it in bits and pieces.

Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens ...because my 12 year old already acts like a teen.

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith ...I've read from several trusted friends/acquaintances that this is good.

The Noticer: Sometimes All a Person Needs is a Little Perspective ...I enjoy fiction that inspires me to something more and I don't know where I heard about this one, but I remember it was good.

Sarah Palin: Going Rogue ...because I'm intrigued and want to know what this woman is really like, and my mom gave it to me, so I already have it!

I'm going to re-read parts of: The Power of a Praying Parent

Read Aloud Book List 09-10

The Family Bible- all year

The Family Under the Bridge - fall

The Lightning Thief - winter

The Little Pilgrim's Progress - reading now

Eternal Destination

"some people spend far more time preparing for a trip to DisneyWorld"-Randy Alcorn "HEAVEN"

I don't know about you but...I love studying my eternal destination! I got this book back out after a conversation with my Mom on my sister Natalie's 30th birthday, about whether or not we age there. It sparked many thoughts on HEAVEN, a subject which is usually left out of most sermons, yet it's the inheritance from our Father and answer to our faith in Hebrews 11:1, when we'll finally see what we've been hoping for and what we've been certain of is finally assured.

"Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4

In I Thessalonians 4 after hearing how exciting it will be to hear that "trumpet call of God" and then learning that we will "meet the Lord in the air" and go "be with the Lord forever"!!! (Woo-Hoo!!! I can't wait!!!) This whole exciting chapter ends with..."Therefore encourage each other with these words."

Once again, the father of lies wants us to forget our eternal destination, and think it's going to be boring and dull to sit on the clouds forEVER. Blah... He's pasted images in our earthly minds that make us want to stay here rather than look forward to our inheritance Christ is preparing for us in heaven. Jesus said in John 14, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." Hello? Mansions?!!! If that's not enough, Revelation 21:4 says "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain." NO sadness whatsoever, people!!!! Just JOY. No depression, no pain, no abuse, no violence, no heart-breaking news stories, no death so no funerals, no crying. Just Joy. That to me, is something to look forward to.

To be cont'd...

Mo's New Favorite Book

I've missed my baby. Since the musical, I've done a lot of snuggling, tickling, kissing and reading. It's a tough job but really one that only a mama can do. :) This book has been around our house(s) since Luke was a toddler and I was in MOPS at First Baptist Beaumont. He loved it, Grace loved it and now Moriah loves it, too! I think they must identify with the little boy who hears Mama say "No, no, no" in certain dangerous situations and they get excited for him when she says "Yes, yes, yes!" to things like going OUTside, which Moriah LOVES to do as well, no matter how cold it is!

So if you have or know a 2-4 year old or even younger, this book is adorable in rhyme and it's one of those that they can "read" themselves even with a limited beginning vocabulary.

Reading with Moriah

"Are You My Mother?" She reads it with me now....LOVE it. I don't read it verbatim, but it's more fun MY way. :) Also, notice that she's holding her other favorite book, "Toy Story".

Another favorite book...

Goes to the MOVIES....

Luke is SO excited!!!

Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief NEW Trailer #3

M.A.K.E. Highlights

Grace:

Enjoying a New Testament Bible study book- which inspired her to start a Bible Club with some of her girlfriends at church.

Long Division- gettin' it!

Language- diagramming sentences

Reading- Finished American Girl books she got for Christmas, now reading Shoeshine Girl

Social Studies -Map Skills, continuing memorizing capitals, and has mastered spelling the states!

New Logic book for problem solving skills, critical thinking and following directions.

Writing Strands- trying this (with Luke) to learn how to add interesting details to creative stories, journals, instructions and reports. It's a great resource for teaching kids to follow directions! (Notice a theme?)

Art & Music- Looking forward to starting CYT rehearsals tonight! She has a special dance part in Linus's song "My Blanket & Me" that will be very cute!

Luke:

also enjoying a new Bible study book on the Gospels

Daily brain building exercises- problem solving, creative & critical thinking (every businessman is at some point told to think outside the box, and we know Jesus did, so we're practicing.)

Decimals- dividing, converting into fractions, & pre-algebra word problems

Finished The Lightning Thief and it's 2 sequels, and had to encourage reading the last 2 for fun so we could move on to other books, but so glad he liked this series! The movie is coming out 2010...more on another post.

Reading The Hobbit

Science- earth and it's core

History- geography and history of the North American plains

P.E.- starting an extra class tonight at Martial Arts that he is very excited about! Sparring!

As I think about Jesus thinking outside the box, I'm reminded that we all come into life with a certain perspective....how we grow up, how we relate to people, how we learn new ideas and how we accept them....we all come into situations with specifics in mind. For instance yesterday Brad talked about growing up in church and how we just accept certain traditions as the norm. RiverPoint wants to be the church that follows Jesus, not traditions... using the Bible as our guide, not the by-laws.

My prayer today as I go into creatively and affectively leading my children to learn and leading the music for "Charlie Brown" is that I will forget my own perspective of the way I think learning should happen because of how I grew up in a classroom and forget the ideas in my head about how I think the solos should sound in Charlie Brown or how the show will come together in the end and just let Christ rule in my heart, so that He can work in me and through me to lead others closer to Him. There's nothing more important than that.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:15-17

Christmas Book Gift Ideas

I recommend a lot of books to people. Here are the ones I seem to recommend most:

A Great Gift for any Woman:

This fictional story retelling the book of Hosea will make you fall in love with Jesus with all of your heart. It's a MUST-read!

Redeeming Love

Great Fiction for Anyone:

This gives you eyes for seeing the spiritual world affecting all that happens in the life of a small town church. Luke's middle name is after the town: Ashton. I read this in high school and need to make time to read it again. Loved it!

This Present Darkness & Piercing the Darkness

For Wives:

This has wonderful prayers for your husband that have changed our marriage and will bless yours as well!

The Power of a Praying Wife

For Couples:

Find out how to fill your spouses cup using the #1 language they speak to offer love.

The Five Love Languages

For Parents:

Prayers for your children affect the generations after us. I am thankful for my parent's and grandparent's prayers for me.

The Power of a Praying Parent

From one of my favorite authors, Kevin Leman, the birth order guy, on obedience:

Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours

For Teens/Graduates:

Life on the Edge

Embracing the Love of God

For Every Christ-follower:

The Pursuit of God

Experiencing God

What's So Amazing About Grace?

My favorite Max Lucado books:

When God Whispers Your Name

God Came Near (Great read at Christmastime)

He Chose the Nails (Great read for Easter)

Favorite bible study:

Lord, I Want to Know You studies the names of God

For more ideas on all topics, click on my label- BOOKS and you'll see other books I have recommended over the past 4 & 1/2 years of blogging.

"The Family Under the Bridge."

We just finished reading this book aloud, and loved it. It's set in Paris, near the Notre Dame Cathedral. It led to discussions about the homeless, God's provision, France, what Catholics believe, the value of work, respect, dignity and responsibility. It was very sweet and if you need a book to read aloud for this time of year, it's perfect.

In Oregon, Betsy & I ate lunch at a french bakery in Cottage Grove and this mural was on the wall of the bridge & the cathedral, right where the family lived at the beginning of the book.

Grace's Book List 08-09

Charlotte's Web

The Long Way to a New Land

Clara and the BookWagon

Pearl vs. the Tooth Fairy

Freckle Juice

The Cul-de-Sac Kids: Double Dabble Surprise

Jake Drake, Bully Buster

McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm

The Littles

Tippy Lemmey

Magic Tree House: Revolutionary War on Wednesday

Sophie Makes a Splash and other sequels

The Paint Brush Kid

The Chalk Box Kid

Brave Kid: Cora Frear

Riding the Pony Express

Maps and Globes

Molly's Pilgrim

Little House on Rocky Ridge

American Girls: Kaya, Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten

Children's Everyday Bible