Spring 2021 Book Review

I can't believe it's almost June and summer is officially here! 

These last few months have flown by. We have been firming up details on our new home (which is an incredible, miraculous story!). We'll be closing escrow this week and moving soon. Excited doesn't even begin to describe how we feel. God has been so amazing to show up BIG TIME through this process of finding a new home in TX and it hasn't been easy. But He is so so good, y'all! 

This Spring, as a result of all that's been going on, I haven't been able to read as much as I'd like, but I managed to get through about 2 books a month. 

So, here we go! 

Rules by Cynthia Lord is a Newberry Honor Book about a 12 yo girl, Catherine who just wants to live a normal life but it seems impossible when you have a brother with autism and their family revolves around his disability. She has spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public." But then Catherine meets Jason, a surprising new sort of friend and her own shocking behavior turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal? I got this book to read aloud to the girls because being a sibling of a brother with special needs is sometimes tough. Although Zach does not have autism (there was a time when we thought he did), he does however have ADHD and there have been many moments when we, as a family, have had to revolve around him and his pressing needs. God has used Zach to teach us all more about compassion and patience. For that. I'm so grateful! We sure do love you, buddy! 

I haven't talked much about Zach's special needs on here because there was a time when we weren't quite sure of his diagnosis. A couple of years ago, when we first had him tested, we got some conflicting information. Since then, we've had more evaluations and now, we are more certain of his ADHD diagnosis. Cindy Goldrich's 8 Keys to Parenting Children with ADHD has been the best book I've read on the subject so far! I felt like she really gets it. She understands everything Zach and our family goes through. The book helped to confirm the complexities that come from ADHD. It's much more than just attention or hyperactivity. A must read for those who have a child with ADHD.

After reading all that deep thinking stuff, my head needed something light so the next two books, I read while we were on vacation in Cancun. I actually listened to them on Audible because I wanted to hear them in the author's own voice. Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon was an entertaining and delightful read. The title refers to Reese's grandmother, Dorothea. She called the combination of beauty and strength in Southern women like "whiskey in a teacup." Full of childhood stories, lifestyle and entertaining tips, southern holiday traditions, and midnight barn parties, as well as her fail-proof hot roller technique and grandma Dorothea's favorite recipes. What's not to like?

I also listened to Jessica Simpson's memoir, Open Book. 

This was definitely an indulgent vacation kind of book. We get a glimpse into Jessica's life, told in her own words and voice. She shares about her religious upbringing, the sexual abuse she experienced that led her to alcoholism, her failed marriage to Nick Lachey, her steamy and unhealthy romance with John Mayer, the unconventional road that led her to her now husband and children, and her quest to find her real self amid all the fame and fortune. Can I say I was actually impressed? She's a lot more than what the media portrays her to be. Her willingness to be vulnerable and real will resonate with her fans and also create new ones.

Next, I read Live Original by Sadie Robertson to the girls. I think we picked this up at a thrift store. It was well worth it in my opinion. My girls don't know much about Sadie or her family but still, it was full of good information. How she stays grounded in her faith as a teenager, how she respects her parents and elders, how she loves her relationships with each of her siblings, and how she intends on staying pure for marriage. A good read for 13-16 year olds.

    

And last but not least, I read Lies Young Women Believe by Wolgemuth and Gresh. 

Wow, this book was SO GOOD. 

I can't recommend this enough. Every chapter became like a bible study and I shared some deep and wonderful conversations with my girls. This is one of the best teen books we've read together so far!

I know I'll be busy with the move and just trying to get settled but hopefully, I'll have time to read some good books this summer, too. Happy summer reading! 😎🌞

 

12/30

Spring Piano Recital

This past weekend, the girls had their Spring Piano Recital. It was their first recital since we moved to Texas, so they were a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect. 

Faith handled her nervousness with lots of daily practicing and as much exercise as she could get out of each day. She played "Kiss the Rain" by Yiruma. 

Grace handled her nerves by keeping her hands busy as well. If she wasn't practicing, she was working on some crafting project. She played "Le Papillon" by Glenda Austin. 

Can we just take a moment and recognize how beautiful the girls are growing up? 

They take my breath away when I look at them! 😍😍 

They picked out their dresses and looked so poised and elegant. 

These two. 💞💞

Gotta love the photo bomb by little brother. 

Almost time to enter the performance hall.

 

It was by far the largest stage they've ever played.  

They each played so beautifully and nailed it!!

With Miss Carissa, their piano teacher.

With Aidan, one of their friends from who church who also played piano. 

Woo-hoo! Carefree, now that they're all done. What a fun opportunity to play at the Grand Theater! 

Old Town Lewisville had some eclectic painted murals where this cutie wanted to pose. 

I'm not sure what he was doing here. Lol! 

Right across the street from the theater were several restaurants and resorted buildings. 

We ended up eating Tex-Mex right across the way at the new Baja Cantina afterwards. Yum!

So fun inside. 

And that wrapped up our Saturday night. We are so proud of all the work the girls put into piano this year. 

It was definitely a transitional year and big change for them with the move to TX. They didn't start piano with their new teacher until February and then had to get acclimated and ready for a May 1st recital.

They handled everything with such poise and maturity.

My mama heart is bursting with pride to see how great the girls are adjusting, how kind they are, and how they are just plain growing up before our eyes.

Bravo, ladies!!

Girls Date Night Social

Last week, the girls and their youth group met at an Italian Restaurant to have a "date night" with the boys of "Man Up," the 9th grade boys group at our church. At first, when I heard about the event, I thought, 

"They're going to teach these kids how to date in 9th grade? What in the world?" Well, it turns out, it's an annual evening of etiquette training for the young men. Almost like a right of passage. The more I thought about it, you can never start too early when you're training young people how to treat a young lady and how to be one.

Looking beautiful as ever.💕

Practicing, just in case any boys act out of line. 😆

I'm so happy they're making new friendships and having fun. 

There was lots of excitement and nervous giggles.

But apparently, the boys were even more nervous than the girls!  

They sat as a group but across from their "date." They changed dates 3 times during the 3 course meal (salad, entree, and dessert). The boys had to practice basic manners like pulling out chairs for the girls, making conversation, and even complimenting them and thanking them for the evening.

 

The kids had a blast and it was a great experience for them all.

Don't worry, I wasn't stalking the girls, nor did I snap these photos. Even though we joked that Morgan, Zach and I would eat dinner at the same restaurant just so we could spy on them.😭

These photos were sent to me by the girls' group leader the next day.  

Can't believe they're almost 15!! 

At the end of the evening, they filled us in on everything and concluded, nobody compared to their daddy! #sosweet #goodjobdaddy 

February 2021 Book Review

I got through three books this month and one of them even transpired into a date night.

I'll take it!  

First up this month, I listened to Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry on Audible. If you haven't heard of JHP, she is a writer, poet, rapper and artist. Jackie grew up fatherless and experienced gender confusion. She embraced masculinity and homosexuality with every fiber of her being. She knew that Christians had a lot to say about this but how was she supposed to change herself? At age 19, Jackie came face to face with what it meant to be made new. And not in church, or through contact with Christians. God broke in and turned her heart toward Him right in her own bedroom in light of His gospel. She gets to the root of why Christians don't know how to deal with homosexuality and sin in general. She also gives practical direction to people who struggle with same sex attraction. This is a powerful book (poetic literature, really) and I would highly recommend it for every Christian in order to help us better understand and better love those in the gay community. This book has been in my audible library for a while now and since Jackie Hill Perry herself was scheduled to come to our church as a guest speaker, it was the perfect time to listen.   

Morgan and I were able to turn it into a date night. We went to a new sushi restaurant in town and then we had a riveting evening at church with JHP. She was both hilarious and powerful in biblical truth. Talk about a much needed light in the world! 

Next, I read Finish First by Scott Hamilton as a read-aloud to the girls. 

Of course, they had no idea who Scott Hamilton was but after showing them a couple of old videos, now they do. As a professional ice skater and Olympic Gold Medalist he learned to embrace the mindset of working hard to "beat" the competition. But it seems competition has gotten a bad rap these days. We've bought into the belief that it is unfair to rank performance. Yet competition is in fact a good thing because it helps us work toward excellence. Finish First is a wake up call to leaders, spouses, parents, and students: stop settling for mediocre and instead, go for the win. This book encourages the hidden potential, the champion in all of us, to come out and shine- which eventually brings our family, marriage, career, business, and the world around us the greatest possible good.

This is a man who has been through so much (survived cancer 3 times) and keeps showing up with his incredible attitude and work ethic. He chooses to make a contribution to the world with what God has given him, on and off the ice. If you've been knocked down and you think you can't get back up, read this. 

Lastly, I read The Blessing by Trent & Smalley. A friend told me about this book years ago and I purchased it back then but it's been sitting on my bookshelf for more than 5 years now. I finally decided to pick it up and once I did, I couldn't put it down. Children of every age long for the gift of The Blessing-- the unconditional love and approval that comes from a healthy relationship with their parents. This blessing, when received, instills a deep sense of self worth and unshakable emotional well-being.

 The Blessing contains 5 essential elements:

1. meaningful touch
2. a spoken message
3. attaching high value
4. picturing a special future
5. an active commitment 

I thought the book powerfully communicated the necessary biblically-based elements to prepare children for positive future relationships, including their relationship with a loving God. Gosh, don't we all want that for our children more than anything? I know I do! Perhaps what I learned most from this book, is what happens to children who never receive the blessing from their parents. We can see it play out in scripture and sadly, we can see the effects of it in our own lives, too. The Blessing might be one of the most important books I read this year. 

6/30

Dallas Zoo

This week, we had some gorgeous weather so we took a little break from our normal routine and took the kids to the Dallas Zoo.

 

You're never too old for a carousel ride!

We saw the brightest orange colored flamingos. 

 

And we found a train ride for Zach. 

These gorillas were competing for dominance and put on quite a show. 

We only stayed a couple of hours because Zach was having a hard time after he saw the train. Sometimes, he can get obsessed preoccupied with one thing and unfortunately, it can make the rest of the day go down hill for everyone, including himself. Poor buddy. It was getting hot anyway so instead of staying there for lunch, we just ate on the way home.

So, what did we think of the Dallas Zoo? 

Well, it's definitely got more animals than our Living Desert Zoo back home but it did seem older and maybe not in such a nice part of town. We heard the Forth Worth Zoo is nicer and maybe we'll check that out next time. Growing up around the World Famous San Diego Zoo, we're kind of spoiled as far as zoos go. 😉   

We live about 45 minutes away from downtown Dallas so before we started back home, we drove by the location where JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963.

X marks the spot. Just behind the trees, you can see the Texas Book Depository Building where Lee Harvey Oswald made his fatal shot from the 6th floor.

Today, the building is known as the Dallas County Administration Building and there are tours available at the Sixth Floor Museum. After visiting Washington D.C and the Arlington Cemetery back in 2012, history like this is fascinating to me and I'd definitely like to return here someday to take that tour.