What's been going on

We have been super busy lately, so here is a brief update on our family:

- Sophie and I continue to grieve the loss of our dog, Sydney. Sophie talks about it everyday. Sometimes, I still wake up thinking about her and can't go back to sleep. Also, I still think about letting her outside and taking care of her. We miss her terribly...

- Sophie did GREAT in her Preschool Praise musical at church. She followed the three golden rules I gave her beforehand: 1) Don't put your finger in your nose; 2) Don't pull up your dress; and 3) Don't pick at your lip. AND, not only that, but she stayed on the stage and actually participated in the program. We were so proud of her and my favorite part was when she waved to me towards the end from the stage and said, "Mama. I didn't pick my lip!" That's my girl.

- Brian has been working hard (as always). He has had a lot of side work lately, which we are thankful for, but look forward to having some family time when they are completed.

- I have been busy keeping the house running and getting things together for Christmas. I spend most of my time with Sophie disciplining her, so I am hoping that this stage of "testing her boundaries" she is currently in will end soon!

- Sophie has been enjoying spending time every Friday night with her grandparents, Grandma and Pap pap. She goes to church with them and spends the night, and she just LOVES this part of her week. Grandma and Pap pap are enjoying it too.

That's about it in a nutshell. Now you're caught up!

Jim Elliot - Heroes of the Faith

This book was okay. After reading End of the Spear, I don't think that some of the information in this book is accurate. But I'm sure that it wasn't intentional by the author!

Healing the Heart - Focus on the Family

I thoroughly enjoyed this Bible Study. It was the first study by Focus on the Family that I have ever done, and I was surprised by how much of it I needed to apply in my own life. A++++

End of the Spear - Steve Saint

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! This book was written by Steve Saint whose father, Nate Saint, was one of the five missionaries killed by the Auca (Waodani) Indians in January 1956 (Jim Elliot was another one of the men who died). Steve writes about growing up with members of this tribe in the Ecuadorian jungle who killed his father. Eventually, Steve moved his wife and children back to the jungle in 1995 to live among the Waodani. The AMAZING love that Steve and his family have for the Waodani people is truly something that only God Himself could orchestrate. I LOVED how one of the men who was involved in the spearing of Steve's father became "Grandfather" to this family. This is one of my favorite books of all times! You've got to read it!

Web of Lies - Brandilyn Collins

Ditto this fourth book. Very interesting plot, but the characters make you want to pull your hair out!

Dead of Night - Brandilyn Collins

This is book three, and my comments are the same. Interesting storyline, annoying characters. Too bad!

Stain of Guilt - Brandilyn Collins

This is the second book in the Hidden Faces Series by Brandilyn Collins. It was better than the first one, but I still didn't love it, and I think I figured out what it is that rubs me the wrong way about this series - I think the plot is interesting but the characters are ANNOYING!!! Seriously, I don't like the personalities of the main people in these books. THAT made it hard to read!

I'm still here

Okay. It's been a WHILE since I blogged and I have a lot of book reviews to catch up on, so let's do it!