Happiest 6th Birthday for Bizbeth!

We celebrated E's 6th birthday quietly but with much family togetherness.   We started by going for donuts at the local donut shop.

Next stop--the Rodeo!  All were dressed for the occasion - boots and all!

We hadn't been to the Houston rodeo since E's 4th birthday and I was looking forward to a more grown-up crew.  I mistakenly decided to do it on her birthday though (Spring break!).  Oops.  We did enjoy our day and did a LOT of walking.

We spent most of our time looking at the livestock in the exhibit hall.  David and Elizabeth were thrilled to see branded cows in real life after just having finished a unit on cowboys.  Many of the cows were being groomed to be shown.  The goats were all staying warm in their blanket coats and muzzles.

Time to visit the nursery section.  We arrived in time to see quite a few baby animals that had been born recently.  One calf (born earlier that morning) shared E's birthday!

We waited in line to view rabbit varieties from all over the world.  It really is amazing to see such great diversity and such beauty.  A couple were almost as big as Abigail.  ;)

Another stop to plant sunflower seeds in cups (plants that sprouted and now reside in our garden in the backyard).

Our last stop in the exhibit hall was to view the chickens.  It is always incredible to watch the chicks as they hatch and peck out of the shells right in front of you!

The next part of the rodeo was a bit I'd rather not repeat.  Directions to the mutton bustin were a bit vague despite several queries.  We found ourselves amongst probably another 50,000 people in the carnival among very long lines, food, games and other such activities.  Not my favorite atmosphere and a long way from small-town rodeos!  We eventually found the mutton bustin tent and sat down just in time to watch 30 contestants ranging from about 5-8 or 9 years old try to ride the sheep without saddles across the arena without falling off.  It was great fun to watch.  David is dying to try it next time.  

The kids were all super troopers but the walk back to the entrance of the grounds and then beyond to a restaurant and the car almost did us all in.  What a difference two years made though.  We all made it!  It was 4 hours of walking around until we finally stopped for lunch at Subway at 3 o clock!

Exhaustion set in on the drive home.  But the night was not over yet.  E had to open her gifts!  Due to this year's circumstances, we kept it modest but it was just as appreciated as a more lavish showing.  E received a book set from Grammy and Grandpa, a check and card from Gram and GDaddy, a book and coloring book from Mommy and Daddy, a tea set (she had actually received it as a baby but it had been tucked away all these years), an IOU to go see Beauty and the Beast as a family, and a fashion plates set.  The last gift has been a huge hit.  Played with by all three almost every day for the past two weeks! (Oh, and I had gone birthday dress shopping with her the previous week as a special date)

What a memorable and fun day!  E's special day was such a treat to spend together as a family!

No birthday cake--we headed out of town the next morning and all were exhausted after all day at the rodeo.  Do the breakfast donuts count?

At the rooster's crow

I have made a few changes over the past several months.  The largest one has me getting up at 4:30 four days a week to workout.  I hear the rooster (on a farm next door) almost every morning as I walk into the gym.  I used to watch the news while exercising but eventually tired of all the same stories over and over.  While I do still occasionally watch the news, I now spend quite a bit more time listening to audio books.  I am feeling like I finally have the time to read all the books, I had always planned to read.  These may not have been my nightstand list, but they are interesting reads nonetheless.  And to make myself feel better about listening, instead of reading, I am listening to the unabridged versions.  I do regret not being able to go back and find specific quotes easily in the non-fiction books, but the fiction has been quite as natural as picking up a good book.

I started this kick with a fiction book from an author that I had been meaning to read for a while.  I had a free audiobook on Audible and decided to give it a go.   The Twelfth Imam by Joel Rosenberg.  My parents have read all of his books and love them. Now I know why! There are some books that just draw you in and keep you almost locked in another world.  His books are like that.  This book is based in the middle east and combines historical events from the past with a modern day story that is almost just as factual today (despite being written 10 years ago).  Rosenberg does have an uncanny ability to predict how future events could unfold.  I had to remind myself multiple times that this was just a work of fiction; the whole book was just a bit scary.  The storyline is complicated with multiple characters that get sorted out as the story progresses.  It describes the rise of the promised muslim messiah, the 12th imam, and as possible nuclear war.  Rosenberg is a Messianic Jew who adds a hint at the gospel that becomes much stronger and clearer in later books.  This is the first book in a series of 3 books.  It reads well as a standalone but is completed with the second and third book in the series.  I personally felt it was the strongest book in the series but did enjoy all three books.  (2nd book is The Tehran Initiative.  3rd book is Damascus Countdown)  They do deal with some more mature content/themes at times (dealt with tactfully) so not good for the younger crowd. These books are long but keep you wanting more.   I am in love...Fantastic books!  Fantastic author!

I enjoyed the first three Rosenberg books so much that I purchased another one of his books, a standalone book.   The Auschwitz Escape.  It too lived up to my expectations.  It takes place in 1940s and is also a historical fiction book.  It follows a main character who ends up in Auschwitz.  It shows the inner workings of this horrible death camp.  It can also get a bit graphic at times and definitely not good for younger kids. But a good, non-sugar coated glimpse into history.  The character does orchestrate an escape.  Is it successful?  That you will have to read to find out.  Again, the gospel is presented as the young hero struggles with who God is.  Another good read although, I liked the other books better.

It was time to turn my attention to a non-fiction book.  I opted for Francis Chan's You and Me Forever since we had just gotten the physical cds for Christmas and knew they would eventually be on M's reading list too.  The tagline for the book is "Marriage in the light of eternity."  It was a quick listen.  There was a good reminder that we are held accountable for our spouse's walk with the Lord, in as much as we can encourage them.  I did not find the book that transforming as someone who has had a Godly marriage roled out in my parents life.  Marriage is not the aim, but Christ shown through it.  Good reminders nonetheless.  I did like how it encouraged you often to turn the cd off and apply what you are learning.

I think partly because I had been meaning to read it for a while, and partly because I was curious what else Francis Chan had to say, I then read Crazy Love.  I found this book far more thought-provoking.  Again, the ideas of an all-encompassing, life-changing walk with the Lord were not that novel but there were a lot practical applications that got me to thinking and pondering personal application.  On the topic of our love for others, we are called to love others as much as we love ourselves.  That might mean lessening our standard of living to pour out on others.  That certainly means looking crazy to a watching world as we love on those who want to harm us.  Where I felt that his other book was lacking in practical application, this one was filled with lots of it.  There is even a chapter of dozens of examples of everyday people who model "crazy love."  This book will not leave you feeling comfortable or good.  It will however prompt you to make your faith living and active, represented by transformative love.

The next one was a freebie audio book that I listened to more to check the "read" box.  I looked at the title Unglued (by Lysa Terkeurst) and decided it didn't really apply.  I am a pretty even keeled person and I rarely come unglued, right?  One of the things I love about Lysa's writing is that she provides loads and loads of personal examples (often humorous) so you can identify quite easily.  If you can't see yourself in at least one of her examples, then you are probably just in denial.  I could identify with most... She also gives plenty of practical solutions based on Scripture. She talks about the need for imperfect progress, but progress nonetheless.  The book is written not for condemnation but for conviction.  "Condemnation defeats us, conviction unlocks the greatest potential for change."  She reinforced a principal that God had taught me just the week before.  Just because I feel something, it does not mean it is what I really want.  "Feelings are indicators not dictators."  So often when I am upset, I feel like lashing out because I am hurting, but is that what I really want?  Of course not!  Not in my heart of hearts.  Another huge principal from the book is the sabbath rest, taking time to evaluate our hearts.  She gave three good questions, "Where am I going my own way right now?  What one area of my life is self pleasing, not God pleasing?  and What idle words need to be reigned in from running rampant in my mind or spilling from my lips?"  I realized that what started as a dutiful read would likely be one of the more life-changing reads I have read in a while.  True, God gave me a week while reading it that had plenty of opportunity for application, but daily we are confronted with opportunities to respond to stressful situations.  We might respond well with the majority of them, but God desires every last inch of us.  A highly recommended read!

This next one I wish I had read instead of listening to.  I constantly found myself "rewinding" and trying to bookmark spots.  Far easier to just flip back a page or two and highlight.  Yes, I went along with the crowd and finally listened to the very popular-- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  The impetus: an opportunity to get the audiobook free.  I can now see why so many people have found it transformational.  The book is written by a gal who clears clutter and changes mindsets for a living.  She claims a 100% success rate.  True or untrue, I can see why her concepts work.  The question when deciding whether to keep something or not is not whether you need it, or even if it is useful.  The question is, "Does the item spark joy?"  She recommends handling the objects as you ask this.  Only keep what really sparks joy.  With a shinto background, there are some things that are kooky and I definitely did not agree with, but the principals for tidying were excellent.  It made me thankful for my parents since many of the principals come as second nature to me because of how I was raised.  But there are still lots of opportunities for tidying in my house.  And what I love so much about this book is that while she addresses the "why" and "what," her "how" is super practical with lots of ideas, not just concepts.  This summer I plan to tackle my house-- decluttering again using a slightly more lenient approach of her Konmari method.

This next one was an actual physical book.  I finally started/completed Wednesdays in the Tower, by Jessica Day George.  It is the second book in the series.  After unexpectedly enjoying the first so much, I was interested in reading this one.  It only took me about 6 months to get to it--all the while checking in/out/renewing from the library the whole time.  Perhaps it was this months-long gap that contributed to my thoughts about this book.  Or more likely, it was the expectation of something as unique.  Whatever the case, I did not enjoy this young adult book.  I found myself wishing I was not the type of person who "had to" finish the book.  I felt sorely disappointed that I had wasted the time to keep this book for 6 months from the library.  The book continues the story of the kids who live in a living castle that can change shape/size at will.  But while the first book was extremely original and fantastical, this one was a lot weaker and far more ordinary.  The saga tells of the effort to unwrap the mystery of the griffins in the castle, while revolving around one specific, live griffin that eats slippers.  The tale ends unfinished which should just beg to read the next book.  Unfortunately, I had no such feeling.  It is a book I will chalk up as having read simply to add to my tally.

The same week I finished the above, I also finished another physical book - Hearts of Fire, by the Voice of the Martyrs. It had also been sitting next to my bed for 6+ months but not for lack of desire. (time to read is so short right now) Unlike the previous book, this is a book that I have and will definitely recommend.  It is the real-life accounts of 8 women who struggled to varying degrees--including martyrdom-- because of their faith in Jesus Christ.  These women are from all over the world at various points in history.  Each story is a stand-alone charge to live for Christ no matter the cost.  Many were extremely hard to read because of all the emotions, but I don't want to back down.  It might be me one day.  Meanwhile, I can pray for these very real people/situations and remain faithful in my easy daily life.

And finally (for now), I finished yet another audio book in my many hours at the gym.  Back to Rosenberg.  I started his series, The Last Jihad.   The first in the series lends the name to the series.  This political thriller takes place in a conflict once again between the middle east and America.  I found it more "preachy" than his other books.  But gently done.  There were more than enough high-action moments to keep me entranced, even on hard-to-work-out days.  I am now onto the second book and will document that and the 3 final books in this 5-book series when I have finished the hours of listening.  Initial impression:  definitely a fun read.  Prefer the Twelfth Imam series, but there is much left in this series before the end...

Where do I get all the audiobooks?  While we have checked out numerous audiobooks for Michael from the library, all these books were streaming versions that I had acquired over the years.  Christianaudio.com offers a free audiobook each month (You and Me Forever was one of those as was Unglued).  Audible has occasionally offered free books too.  Lots of options that don't cost that much money.  But if you prefer to buy these, you can find all of them at Amazon.  My links above are Amazon referral links.

Fotos in February

My three precious blessings!  

D is the responsible older brother who tries hard to take care of his sisters, all the while annoying them.  

E has a fascination with intricate and ornate hair styles.  She is rarely without some sort of up-do and clip.  Often with several.  Somehow she pulls them all off with such style.  Even the little hat below --- which is a doll hat -- looked rakishly stylish on her head.  

 

A, my cheerful goof-ball...  And yup!  The shoes are still on the wrong feet.

 

 

Special sister time in coordinating dresses.  They spend hours playing together!