Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Sisters Book Challenge

Book 3

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

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This was another easy-to-read book. It also made me hungry while reading it! I liked that the chapters were short. It seems like I read faster if the chapters are short. :) When I picked up the book, I didn't know what to expect. I thought it would be weird and dark but it wasn't like that at all. Yes, it was very fantastical, but not supernatural. I love that some great candy like Nerds, SweeTarts, Everlasting Gobstoppers, Sprees, etc. came from this book.

“Mr Willy Wonka can make marshmallows that taste of violets, and rich caramels that change colour every ten seconds as you suck them, and little feathery sweets that melt away deliciously the moment you put them between your lips. He can make chewing-gum that never loses its taste, and sugar balloons that you can blow up to enormous sizes before you pop them with a pin and gobble them up. And, by a most secret method, he can make lovely blue birds' eggs with black spots on them, and when you put one of these in your mouth, it gradually gets smaller and smaller until suddenly there is nothing left except a tiny little DARK RED sugary baby bird sitting on the tip of your tongue.”

― Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
words by Henry van Dyke


Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

 All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

 Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

 Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You.” ~Psalm 71:23

Photo Friday: Old Windmill

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Wonderland Creek

Sisters Book Challenge

Book 2

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

Wonderland Creek was on my list of books for the Sisters Book Challenge, but it was also on my list of books to read for 2013.

I love Lynn Austin's books. I have read many of her books and I've liked them all. You feel like you are caught up in her stories and don't want to put the book down until you are finished. It's very easy to feel like you're right there with her characters and Wonderland Creek was no exception. 

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This book takes place during the Great Depression. Alice, who lives in Illinois, is a lover of books. She dreams of a happily-ever-after like in the stories. But when her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library in just a few days of each other, her happily-ever-after looks bleak. Before all this happened, Alice had started a book drive for a rural Kentucky town called Acorn and when she has a opportunity, she makes the journey down to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal, for a couple of weeks. The city girl has no idea what she has gotten herself into when she is dropped off on the library steps and left alone in the strange, new town with no indoor plumbing and electricity. 

I don't want to tell you too much more and spoil the book for you. This is definitely a book to put on your reading list. 

Have you read any Lynn Austin books? 

What are your favorites?

Pinky

Pinky thinks she's the queen of the house. She is a feisty kitty and has been known to be bad (quite often!), but we love her anyway. She likes the heat and hates the cold. She loves plain chicken and spicy taco meat.

At night, she likes to sleep with someone. If she chooses me, she likes to be right up against me and get under the covers so that only her head is sticking out...just like a person.

Pinky has many names. Pinky Susan is her full name but she has been called Pinky Sue, Pink, Susanne, Bubby, Bubs, Poi, etc.

One of her favorite spots is in my window seat soaking up the sun patches. She has a really low meow which we hear often since she uses it when she isn't happy with us. (It can be hard to please her sometimes.) She loves mornings...she purrs and rubs and does somersaults.

When she needs to go out to use the bathroom, she walks across the piano. She plays the same notes. When the little ones are over and they "play" the piano, too, you can always tell the difference between their playing and Pinky's since she steps on the same keys every single time.

Tomorrow is Pinky's "birthday"...the day she showed up at our door and found her way into our hearts and home. 

Linking-up to Vee's note card party...

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If you have time, you might also want to check out this lovely pillow giveaway... 

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
words by George Matheson

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.


O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.


O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.


O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

***

“I trust in Your unfailing love.” Psalm 13:5

Photo Friday: Our Heart-shaped Cupcakes

I found this idea on Pinterest and I thought that our Valentine's Day celebration on Sunday was the perfect time to try it. 

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Holes

Sisters Book Challenge

Book 1

Holes by Louis Sachar

I chose to read Holes first because it was one of the only ones available in the e-library at the time, and because I have heard so much about it recently.

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I started this book one afternoon and by bedtime, I was finishing the last chapter. It was an easy-to-read sort of book, but it also had a story where you wanted to find the answers to all your questions. Why are all those kids there? Why do they have to dig holes all day? Who is the warden? 

The story is about Stanley Yelnats, a boy who is wrongfully accused of stealing and sent to a detention center called Camp Green Lake. The hot, dry, brown camp is run by a mysterious warden who makes the boys dig a hole five feet wide and five feet deep every day. If they find anything of interest in their holes, they are to report it to the warden or the "counselors". What are they looking for? Will the madness never end for these boys? 

If you want a light read, you should pick up this book and give it a try. 

I've seen that there is a sequel to Holes called Small Steps. Has anyone read that one? I'm wondering if it's just as good as Holes was.

Love Lifted Me

Love Lifted Me
words by James Rowe


I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! 
When nothing else could help 
Love lifted me! 

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling
In His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.


Love lifted me! Love lifted me! 
When nothing else could help 
Love lifted me! 


Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.


Love lifted me! Love lifted me! 
When nothing else could help 
Love lifted me! 

♥ ♥ ♥

He was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’  ~Matthew 14:29-31

Photo Friday: Open Gate

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My Recent Knitting Projects

Knitting is such a relaxing project. I like that you can do it almost mindlessly while watching TV. I wanted to share some of my recent knitting projects with you.

I found this orange/yellow/brown/rust/cream colored yarn in my yarn stash and since I had plenty of it, I started experimenting. I came up with the idea to make hats for the little boys. There were a few moments at the end when I thought that I wouldn't have enough to make all three hats but I did with just a few inches of yarn left! That was last winter when there was a sick person in the house and since there were movies playing most of the day, it was easy to sit down and knit the hats in just a couple of days. I decided to keep them for Christmas (I think ahead when planning gifts.) Fast forward to the fall and I found some lovely cream colored yarn at Hobby Lobby for the girls' that went with the cream in the boys' hats. 

Don't they look absolutely adorable?!

When I was purchasing the cream colored yarn, I noticed that Bekah was admiring a yarn that had a silver glitter string running through it. It went with her coat, so I asked her if she would like to make her a hat with it. She did and I whipped up sparkly hat for her after I was finished with the other hats. I really liked it, so I was inspired to make her a scarf for her Christmas gift. I didn't want her to know about it so I had to knit in the cracks...late at night, during her piano lesson, behind the closed door while she was doing school. It seemed to take forever! Try knitting 5 feet of scarf in secret. But I got in done in plenty of time. It looks so cute with her coat and hat. She has gotten several compliments. My grandmother (who is just as frou-frou as Bekah is) asked me to make her one just like it which I finished last night. This one went much faster than the other one did. 

Sisters Book Challenge

My sister Kristin and I were inspired by the Quirky Bookworm's BFF Book Challenge and have decided to do our own book challenge together this year. We each had to pick ten books for the other which was quite the challenge itself. It took us almost a week (and many emails) to pick the books but by Sunday we had our lists to give one another. We are each committed to reading five books on the list by the end of the year. I think both of us bookworms are up to the challenge. (I don't know about Kristin, but I might even read more than my five? We'll see.)

Here's my list from Kristin:

Keep a Quiet Heart, Because of Winn-Dixie, How Not to Die, Holes, The Air We Breathe

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Thr3e, Peter Pan, The Secret Keeper, Wonderland Creek

And here is my list for her:

The Scarlet Pimpernel, Mr. Darcy's Diary, The Wind in the Willows, The Centurion's Wife, Calico Bush

All Creatures Great and Small, Bride of Thistleloch Castle, Romeo and Juliet, Maid to Match, Crooked House

I have already looked up my list of books in the local libraries and have checked one out which I will start reading in the next couple of days. 

This is going to be so much fun!
Are you doing any book challenges this year?

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

God Be With You Till We Meet Again
words by Jeremiah Rankin

God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.


God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy anoint you;
Sacred ministries appoint you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.


God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.


God be with you till we meet again;
Of His promises remind you;
For life’s upper garner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.


God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sorrows taking,
Never leaving or forsaking;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.


God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Strike death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.


God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

~ ~ ~

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  ~Matthew 28:20

Photo Friday: Window

On an recent driving excursion, I came across this window in an old barn. I wonder what stories it could tell?

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