What we're reading...

The boys and I just finished the audio version of this book:

The Fast and the Furriest by Andy Behrens

It was a great book, fun ride and huge character development and change.  

There were true laugh out loud parts, and parts we still quote

"Seriously, Cromwell, gross."

Very fun read.

(There is one curse word, used late in the book about someone being Bad-***)

Lots of fun. We listened to the audio version, which was very well done.

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We are now on night 75 of our consectuive nights read-aloud promise and finished 

Lemony Snicket's Who Could That Be At This Hour.

Weird little book, but good story line.  Lots of loose ends, but there is another coming out.

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And we just finished Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation.

It was a long, thick book, but the boys loved it.  I think it was probably written to a little younger audience, but even my 14 and 15 year old enjoyed it.

Story full of superheros who live in the Imagine Nation and the an orphan boy who finds out he is part of the nation too.  Part Harry Potter, part Comic Book, and a great adventure.

I think we'll listen to the other books (four in the series) on CD though, because it took all the 

library renewals allowed to read aloud through it.

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I'm still working through 

Give Them Grace

Though there are parts I roll my eyes at (the long, long talks in the heat of the moment), so much of the information is eye opening and really helping me see that it's not about the boys' outward behavior, but inward heart, and who is ultimately responsible for that change (not me, not them, but God).  Good stuff, but thick reading and a lot to digest.

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For my biography reading, I'm currently enjoying this huge book on Walt Disney

I picked it up on our vacation in Disneyland and have enjoyed it so far, but am only up to where is is about 18, and there's the WHOLE book left to go.  Great so far though. I really long for that small town life that he had growing up, though not ideal, I can see how he formed such a love for art and hard working personality.

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For Bible Study, I'm working through Crazy Love by Francis Chan

That link is to the workbook I'm going through with a friend.  It adds a whole new level to the book, but the book is great on its own too.

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I'm not sure what is next on our read aloud list (we had to put aside Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson because it was just too hard to read through aloud... I was tongue tied, the boys were disinterested.  Maybe we'll re-visit it later.)  We have this book, so maybe we'll try it. Next year in school the boys will be reading The Iliad, so having a different version may help them understand it a bit more when they're in the thick of it.

That's it for now.  If you know of any great read-alouds, let me know!

Thanks!

"Ruining" my Bible. Slowly. And on purpose.

I have been (slowly) reading through my Bible, cover to cover, for a year now!

I've tried the 'read through the Bible in a year' programs and got STRESSED out and gave up after I fell days, then weeks, then months behind.  So I just never felt pressed to do it.

But on May 3, 2012, I committed to reading just 3 pages through at a time. 

Just 3 pages.

And when I would read those 3 pages, I would MARK up my Bible.

I used to be against marking up my books/Bibles because then I would ruin them...

Then I got over it.

And started 'ruining' my Bible.

And you know what?  I LOVE it even more.  

Through my reading and studying and post-it notes inside, I've learned more than I ever have before.  (Even through Leviticus!)

I have absolutely LOVED each book of the Bible I've been through so far.

(I think the hardest are the big genealogies, but I can skim those.)

But there is a method I've been using that I think really enhances my learning, making it more than just read-through-the-pages-trying-to-stay-awake-then-I'm-done sort of thing.

I mark off each section of the scriptures when the topic/idea/subject changes, then write what that section was talking about in the margin....

Then when I'm done reading through my 3 pages for the day, I write what the main topic was for that page.  I don't even use complete sentences, just a few words... there's no rules, just something for me to glance at and remember.

 and if there's ever something that I just DO NOT understand, I'll put a big ? next to the passage or use a post it to mark that area.

This was so cool when I had just read through Genesis and our pastor was going through the book of Genesis and he directly answered TWO areas that I had but big question marks on.

Another cool benefit is that I'm kind of making a Bible Study guide too. When a passage is mentioned I can flip to that verse and have an instant view of the context it is used in.... and if you're like me, you retain a lot more if YOU do the work yourself.  In an age of instant 'google' answers, doing it the old fashioned way has helped my retention and understanding way more than anything else.

Even when it got to the tricky parts in 2 Kings with all the kings of Judah and Israel and who was ruling who at what time... I was able to keep track for the most part.

Later in my reading I found a great guide online to kind of help me think through what I read even more, but I cannot for the life of me find it anywhere online now!

But if you were wanting to add that to your reading, I've started keeping a notebook/journal and answering these questions (that were on the original worksheet I had found) after I read for the day:

Date:

Passage:

1. Summary of passage:

2.  Is there an example to follow?

3.  Is there an error I should avoid?

4.  Is there a command to obey?

5.  Is there a sin to forsake?

6.  How can I apply this to my life today?

Have you read through your Bible entirely?

Is there anything that has helped you stay focused to the end?

Let me know!

Thanks,

Kari