My Long Awaited Book Review

A few months ago, I blogged about finding THIS incredible book at my favorite HS country book store... "Created To Be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl. Since my finding, I have casually blogged about the book and sang its praises. (You can read my other writings about this book under the book topics in my sidebar.)

Finally, I am done! I am able to give my review. Actually, I cringe at saying Im done, because technically I am not! This is a book I will forever reference to and forever read. I don't think I can ever be done. This book has left an impression on my heart and in my marriage that I will never forget.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is married, getting married or know someone who is engaged. In todays "All about me" society, this book is a bitter pill to swallow. In the current days of roaring women who demand to be heard and rule, this book will be nothing but a hard slap in the face. But beneath the cover of this book lies basic biblical principles on a fulfilling marriage and a glorious Christ centered life.

Sometimes some things were hard to read. I grew up in an age where women should have everything, do nothing and rule. A generation of confusing, twisted and soul wrecking advice which now leaves thousands of women in unhappy marriages. Our souls fight with our God given desires and decades of deceiving wisdom.

Although, I have always considered myself an "old fashioned" kinda wife, I was still able to learn so much from Debi's honest advice. I cringed when I read many mistakes I was guilty of. I took note of them and will pray until I change.

I loved her description of Adam and Eve and the roles they were designed for. So beautiful and TRUE!

No one sex was demeaned or exalted but showed Gods perfect design during creation

Sin of coarse came in and threw a wrench in the plan, but with prayer, Godly submission and throwing out all the junk this world fed you ll your life, true freedom can be established.

I have learned that loving my husband and family is the upmost important role I could ever have. I have re-kindled the love I have for my home. I have committed to being a keeper at home, filling my walls with love and prayer. In my eyes, nothing compared to my husband. He is praised at the gates of his home, even in his faults, my children will see me love him.

My role as a help-meet is not considered work, but a privilege handed to me. I will bring up my children the same way. My home is our haven, a safe place from the world where warmth, love and food can be found.

My home is a refuge for my husband and my children. My heart is fixed in my home. I have re-committed being a keeper here, not just abiding here but making it a home.

I re-committed my help-meet role to my husband. He leads our family and I am his "advisor." I seek to help him guide our family and will respect him in that position. I am privileged to find protection under his shield and no one else's. My eyes are turned towards my responsibilities instead of wandering aimlessly around. Idleness is not found in our home. My trust is in my God and my husband. My life is found in His, his dreams have become mine. His goals and plans for the future are what I will strive for. Two became one, and one cannot be separated. There is no "I" in we and no "me" in us.

" A Home is not a home unless the lady is there making it a home..."

When people pass my home on the street, I want them to know that love abides there... I want them to see the love emanating from the windows and doors.

Look up these verses for great Biblical references used in this book:

Colossians 3:18

Titus 2:3-5 (these passages alone are taught in several chapters of the book. So important)

Proverbs 31:10-31

1 Timothy 5:14

I Wish, I Wish With All My Heart...

While searching the aisles of my favorite homeschool bookstore this past weekend, I ran another book that I knew I HAD to have!!! It is a must have, another bible, if I do say so myself. A hardcover thick book filled with everything I need to know and everything I need to train up my 4 daughters. Its a book that will be passed down, a book whose pages will be familiarly wrinkled. It will be highlighted and written in. The kids will look back and remember the times we gathered around it learning new stitches or recipes or how-to's. It was $49 so I left it there.... but I will return in October to bring it home to me. It will be mine and it will be cherished. Even hubby thought it was the "Homemakers bible" and will most certainly find a place in our home.

It is called "Training our daughters to be keepers at Home" by Ann Ward. Its a 7 year homeschooling coarse on teaching our daughters (and myself) skills such as:

Godly Womanhood	Flower Arranging	Making a House a Home
Sewing	Basketry	Caring for the Sick & Injured
Cooking/Baking	Family Finances	Family Celebrations
Gardening	Embroidery	Childbearing
Knitting	Child Development	Infant Care & Breastfeeding
Making Greeting Cards	Child Training	Raising Small Animals
Home Management	Cross Stitch	Soapmaking
Quilting	Hospitality	Candlemaking
Crocheting	Caring for the Elderly	Woman's Health Concerns
Comforting the Mourning	Rug Braiding	Home Business

I flipped thru the pages of the book and stared in wonder. Illustrated pictures on how to knit (you all know how much I need that) decorating ideas, wonderful recipes. The pages were thin and filled with small print from top to bottom. So much information was packed into that huge book. I didn't want to walk away, I didn't want to leave it but I knew I had to. The kids were getting wild and hubby was losing patience. It will be mine and it will be read from cover to cover. I will begin the study with my girls in the New Year. I can't wait. Of coarse as I put the book down I saw another treasure lying next to it... "Created To Be His Help-Meet" By Debi Pearl. I smiled... knowing this was a very good table!

When It Rains...

The last 3 days in the south have been soggy and gray! Not that Im complaining. Every so often a soul needs this type of weather to cozy up and prepare for whats ahead. After endless months of sun and heat, this was just a brief reminder that cold cloudy wet days are soon to find us. I know the sun will be here soon enough, but until then I will enjoy the warmth of the cozy!!!

Saturday all of our fun family plans were cancelled. We had 7 very disappointed faces. Prayers were prayed all week for sun but much to our dismay, we could not find any! SO, we did the next best thing... took a detour out to the country homeschool "bookstore" and bought!

I went there strictly to buy "Teaching your child to read in 100 easy lessons." this book comes HIGHLY recommended by many experienced moms and I even have seen great reviews while circling Blog-land. I have been eyeing it for a while and quickly snatched it off the shelf. I browsed the wonderful books. Aisles and Aisles of wonders. I never know what to look at first when I go. My children ran off to try and find the cats that live among the print and I got lost in all the covers. A math book for Molly found its way in my arms. Great illustrations, colors and easy to do together. It will give her the basic sorting,counting and adding skills she needs. I also picked up another great read for me. "Little Women." Tis book is no stranger to me. I have seen the movie every year traditionally for 13 years. Every day somewhere in November, the girls and I cuddle and watch the adventures of the March Sisters. Next week I have a book club meeting and this was the book! I have a lot of reading to do in the next 12 days but I have faith it could be done!!!

I also noticed, on the clearanced table, they had a fictional story of a girl living in the lost city Pompeii. I just introduced that famous story to the girls last week. We studied the different types of rock and when we mentioned dried lava, our conversation switched to Pompeii and that devastating day in August. There went our science lesson as we searched the internet for every fact and pictures we could find. They were FASCINATED!!! Their eyes bright with wonder. I remembered feeling that same way when I too learned of its fateful history. We studied Mt. Vesuvius and saw the mummified bodies. That book was perfect! I snatched it up as well.

I could have honestly bought everything in that dusty old warehouse. We will be back in just a few weeks for their big sale and much more will be purchased. November is coming up, a time for us to study in depth, great heros of our country. The Pilgrim's Progress, and the American Patriots handbook will be recited and learned!!!

Shortly after we dropped our chick-lits off at a friends house. They surprised us with free babysitting so Hubby and I could have a night to ourselves. We were so blessed by their kindness. The kids had a blast playing on the playground, having a picnic and playing games!!! We indulged in delish Thai food. Spicy, hot and just right. The lettuce wraps are my favorite.

We returned to pick up our spoiled children and chatted a bit before we departed for home.

Home is always a good way to end a night. Always welcoming your return and smelling of good familiar scents. The kids and I chatted about our evenings and then scampered off to their own little beds. Tucked in and tired from a long day, they quickly all fell asleep. The morning comes quickly and church was waiting!!!

Today was a typical Sunday for us. We relaxed and I will spend my last few hours of the weekend lesson planning and knitting before I go to sleep. Monday is almost here. I don't like monday. Its always very off balance. Perhaps I will pray a little longer and a little harder so monday is not that bad. Im sure I will keep you posted!!!

FYI

Im still reading "Created To Be His Help-Meet." By Debi Pearle and it is SO good. Amazing. Astonishing.TRUE. And bittersweet. If only man and woman reclaimed the roles God intended them to live... oh what a world we would live in. Joy would be re-established and peace would abound. Now... don't get your pink frilly panties in a twist, the book does NOT demean women but glorifies their womanly loveliness. Whats better than that? In my book... Nothing!!!!!
So go out and get your copy and enjoy!

Coming Soon... A School Near You!!

Well, not actually near you... Near me! Today we woke up bright and early, packed up the van with kids,cups and snacks and headed towards that dusty warehouse in the country. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love that place. Books from floor to ceiling of every genre,topic... a whole other world crammed in between 4 metal walls. I know I have posted about this place before but since Its my blog... Im going to rave again.
This time we went with a few specifics in mind. We still have a long way to go with our curriculum. We are praying for provisions and God is faithful!!
All red tag books are 50% off. WHAT??? Yup! I skimmed thru all the classics on the table and felt so happy every time Emma picked up a book and said "read this, read that." How awesome that she fills her mind with wonderful works. I picked up Jane Eyre for myself and The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn to read aloud to the kids. Both for only $5!
Jason ran over to Alpha Omega publishing and bought SOS 7th grade math for Emma.
Knowing what we wanted to purchase, what we had and what we were waiting on, I had lots of free time to skim some more books and not feel so overwhelmed.
I just fell in love with some electives. Most modern day women would roll their eyes at me or laugh but thats fine. After all, I always have the last laugh!!! I instantly was drawn to the "Teaching your young women the art of home making. Ages 8 and up." I didn't purchase as I firmly believe in teaching this and the book was not necessary. They had books for ages 4 and up, ages 6 and up and 8 and up. They also had books for boys. Disciple books, raising young gentlemen and taught the young men basics such as fixing a skateboard and male grooming. Amazing. I loved ever page.
For the girls it taught modesty, purity and the art of basic cooking,cleaning and had such cute easy recipes. Rue's, chicken soup, homemade cream soups, mac and cheese, cooking with dairy,breads, cakes.... I could have stood their and browsed all day. I am thankful that my older girls know alot of this just from having hands on experience at a young age. Even Molly (who is 5) helped me pick,chop,mix and make a summer tomato and cucumber salad for lunch and then helped fix and prep dinner. All from standing on a chair. Its never too early.
The home is one of the most important places in this world. You don't buy a home... you make one. If you are not equipped with the necessary skills, one can never be made. One can also not be bought. It is precise measurements of love,care and prayer!
My kids enjoyed the visit to the old warehouse as well. The counted ( and harassed) the cats and played with the books.
When I step thru the old metal windowless door I feel as if I enter another world. A place I can't quite describe. I pick up books where God is put first. Where goals of modern day society are left at the doorstep and biblical truths take precedence.
I get inspired and renewed just by walking thru the aisles. I instantly remember why I choose to Homeschool my children... I want to fill my dear childrens minds with purity and good. Eternal goals, biblical wisdom and solid foundations.
For those of you who think Im sheltering my children... I am. What's wrong with that? Their children. Shouldn't they be protected? You would not throw a puppy or a kitty into a lions den so why would I throw my children into a world that would eat them alive without being properly equipped?
I've heard the arguments before and quite frankly they don't interest me. They have no ground to stand on. Not in my house.
"They have to learn how to cope in the real world..."

YES! Your right. Unfortunately they have to. Unfortunately this world is not a great place to live which is exactly why they need special instruction before stepping out.
Thats where I step in. Who better to teach them then their mother. I made them, I know them and I love them. It just makes sense. One day they will be grown. They will leave the nest. I will push them and they will fly. All the lessons that have been instilled in their hearts will come to their minds and they will fly. They will have a solid foundation and soar. When the waves come knocking at their door and shake them to their core... they can pull from their heart filled knowledge and steady the boat. The storm will pass and the sun will shine again.
So next time you meet a homeschool family and have doubts... perhaps you need to reflect on your own childs needs instead of mine. As you can see, mine are all taken care of. Take count on who is filling your childs heart and what life lessons they will be able to look back on. 35 hours a week is being filled by someone else. Someone who can never love, teach, nuture,protect and guide like you.

Once It Was Lost But Now It's Found....

My faithful readers KNOW how I feel about my bible. I have BLOGGED about it before. Its my beloved black book I have had for over 20 years. Recently it went missing!! I was frantic. Never in my ownership have I lost that dear bible before (outside of my living quarters that is) SUnday night at about 11:30p.m. my frantic search began. I realized it really was GONE!! I was panic stricken. I ripped the house apart and even convinced hubby to leave the warmth of our bed to help me with the search.

I finally gave up and collapsed into bed. Where could it be? Where did I leave it? How could I ever replace it? My poor hubby was so patient as I rambled on and on... and on about how I could never shop for a new one. My old trusty bible was warn and loved and had just the right crinkle when I turned the page. I knew where all my favorite verses were just by location. I know the feeling of ever book in it. The pages were written in and noted on. I had beloved notes from friends, notes from service and pictures my kids drew me shoved in its side pockets. I had sonogram pictures of my beloved baby B. tucked away for me to look at when Im having intimate moments with God.

I knew I would have to spend all day in the Christian book store "testing" every bible on the shelf before I made that fateful purchase of replacement.

Today I went to my church. My last resort. I searched high and low. I went upstairs in the Family ministry center and turned the dark corner and their she was. Alone, in the dark, up against the wall. Without thinking I let out a loud squeal and ran toward her and hugged her ( im serious.) I could hardly contained my happiness. I quickly unzipped the case and flipped thru her pages... she was in my arms again.

I tried to explain to Emilie to please excuse my childish behavior but this bible means the world to me. We quickly swapped bible stories and I realized Im more normal than I thought. Their are "others" out their who adore their bible and can use no other. Now to convince my Mr. Im not as crazy as he thinks. =p

STOP THE PRESSES...

Today was a busy-filled and exciting day. Most won't agree, but if your anything like me then an old warehouse in the country FILLED from floor to ceiling with books of all sorts was the perfect way to start the weekend. This place is a place I have heard about many times and finally visited. Its old, dark and crammed with aisles of homeschooling books, History books,geography books,classics,bibles,learning tools and anything you would need to teach your children at home. Not just their ABC's but a whole way of life. Art,Classical music,poetry,homemaking,biblical womanhood,purity,handwriting,modesty,government,Christian living. You name it and they had it.

I was inspired all over again and clearly remembered why I had wanted to home school to begin with. I picked up a few books for purchase and walked toward the back of the dusty building towards the cash register. The kids enjoyed playing with the barn cat and I was wearing my new pink skirt=)!

On a back table hidden among Mozart cd's and Raising Domesticated Daughters was a hidden Jewel. A book so precious I could not believe my eyes. You can read about the book HERE. I can't find the newest cover to display on my blog, its much nicer than the old one but you get the picture. It is called "Created To Be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl. Michael and Debi Pearl are Christian homeschool parents. Or were home school parents. All 5 kids are grown and married and in ministry... All serving God in their own way. They home schooled their kids before it was PC to do so, before curriculum was available for purchase and before legal defense was in place. I have always admired their free spirits and thinking. They were raised during the hippie era. You can tell. But most of all the love they have for their family and each other shines thru!

This book is very much like "Passionate Housewives Desperate For God." It squashes the femenist way of thinking and really glorifies the role of Biblical WOmanhood. As all "wife"books do, this book has created controversy as making women inferior. The lesser race. Of coarse, if you understood Biblical principles you would not feel this way. With all books I compare them with scripture and "pick out the meat and spit out the bones." SOme of its simply hard to hear and even harder to swallow!

God reveals to me MY personal message, so please, No need to debate.Im simply not interested.

I read the book the whole ride home and was hooked the moment I opened its crisp page. All current reads will be dropped until I read and re-read every letter of this book.

Im sure I will update you about my newest treasure along the way as I read. Let me know if you go get the book and if you do, how you like it as well.

We also got shiny new tires on our big black van today (along with jug-o-lysol,brown sugar as far as the eye can see and a case of soap!) Gotta love Costco!

Im off to read and cook Enchiladas for dinner. Ole!

SWEET!

Mission Accomplished! I found my summer books to read. Thanks To Auntie Megan who so kindly brought a stack of brand new books off the plane to read by the pool. Sweet Love captured my attention the moment she handed me the stack! Im excited to open its pages and read all thats inside. A lot of Shakespeare is quoted and true love is re-united...over cooking class of coarse! Dessert to be exact! Just my cup of tea.

To be truthful Im more excited over "The Friday Night Knitting Club." The moment I stumbled across this awesome find I knew I had to get my hands on it. As soon as I can get over to Barnes and Nobers I will drop all current reads and dive headfirst into this Knitting wonder!!! Im so excited! I can't wait. Its been way too long since I have indulged in some good words.

To my dis-appointment I found out they are turning "The Friday Night Knitting Club" into a movie. I HATE that! I must quickly read and indulge before Hollywood ruins it for me.

Alright, Im off... I will gently open the pages of this delightfully pink book and enjoy by the pool...bye...

HELP

Pardon the nightstand, my bedroom is under a make-over right now =)

The events of this past weekend has taken a toll on my brain. Im SHOT! I can't think straight and just want to walk around with my tongue hanging to the floor!!! I finally let my body relax and now im done!! I need a good book to read... and I don't have any!!! My nightstand is spilling over with great books but none that suites my needs right now.

I settled On the one above. I am only about 1/4 of the way thru it. I have been reading it for over 6 months. WHen I need a break from reality I open it and drift away. I prefer non-fiction only when I have been put thru the ringer and need to escape to a different place. This sounds perfect right now!

I have moved my beloved book mark into her and she awaits me in my cozy bedroom. The bookmark is delicate lace, with a monogram of my initial. Hubby bought it for me in Ireland back in 1997 when he was deployed in the military. Knowing my love of reading (and lack of time to do it) he knew I would just adore this keepsake. I have kept it near my bed ever since. It tenderly holds the pages of my current read. Its a bit dirty and loved but I don't mind.

I spent the day in the garden. The veggies and flowers were fertilized, the butterfly bush had her daily prune and the cucumbers and beans now have a brand new home made trellis to climb. A shower is needed and then I will snuggle up and enjoy the peace, let my mommy nerves calm down and enjoy the silence.

~Au revoir~