Future Lawn Mow-er in Training
Jul 29, 2008
What’s on My Nightstand?
written by katrina · 14 Comments
The gang over at 5 Minutes for Books is hosting a new monthly carnival called What’s on Your Nightstand?, an opportunity for us to chat about what we’re currently reading. Click the graphic to get more details, and then join in the fun!
So, what’s on my nightstand? Here you go:
My current fiction read is The Cure, by Athol Dickson. My friend, Jennifer, sent me this book, and it looked intriguing. To be honest, though, the beginning of this book? A little slow. Now keep in mind, I’m a girl who likes action, suspense, thrillers. So any time a book starts off with too much of an introspective slant, I am tempted to quit. But usually, I persevere. Because it feels wrong to not finish a fiction book…unless it’s really bad.
I persevered with The Cure, and I can honestly say, now that I only have about 1/4 of the book to go, the pace certainly picked up. Exciting things started happening, a hefty dose of mystery was introduced, and I found myself wondering how things would turn out for the characters. I would definitely read another book by Dickson and am thinking of making it Winter Haven, which Lisa reviewed here.
My current nonfiction read is Journaling as a Spiritual Practice. InterVarsity Press sent me this book out of the blue, and I jumped right in. I am not a faithful journaler, but this book is tempting me to start up again. The author’s focus is on how journaling can help us recognize God’s work in and around us, but she also talks quite a bit about faith in general and the Christian life. My favorite quote so far?
“Christian faith admits that the worst things, the things we are most afraid of, could indeed happen to us, but they are nothing to be afraid of. Our courage rises because we know…our lives — no matter what happens to us — belong to God. We know and believe God is with us in and through it all.” [p. 46]
Finally, my current Bible study is Premium Roast with Ruth. I’ve mentioned the Coffee Cup Bible Study series by Sandra Glahn before, and I really can’t say enough good things about them. They’re super-portable, doable, deep (but not overwhelming), and I learn so much from them.
True confession: I’ve also been picking up Writing Motherhood and Looking for God, and reading bits and pieces of them as well. I can’t help it — I’m always “reading” multiple nonfiction books…even if I never actually complete them. But since I’m not completely committed to these books right now, I didn’t include them in the official list or picture.
So what’s on your nightstand? Write a post and sign up at 5 Minutes for Books. Inquiring minds want to know!
Jul 28, 2008
Giveaway: Ka-Ching (2-Player Card Game)
written by katrina · 263 Comments
Melanie from Bloggy Giveaways is hosting her quarterly Bloggy Giveaway Carnival this week, a chance for the rest of us to have some fun giving away (and, of course, trying to win!) lots of cool stuff. Be sure to visit the carnival headquarters to see the many items that are being given away this week.
But while you’re here, let me tell you about my giveaway.
I’m giving away a new, shrink-wrapped copy of the the game Ka-Ching! from Gamewright Games.
Ka-Ching! is a fun little game for two players that takes about 15 minutes to play. The box says it’s for ages 10 and up, but my son, C., has been playing Ka-Ching! since he was 7 or 8, so I think that age is flexible.
Not sure if you’re interested? Let me tell you a little bit about the game.
At the start of the game, each player is given $20 (play money, of course), and 35 “stock” cards are arranged on the table in 5 columns of 7 cards each. The stock cards come in five different colors, and vary in numerical value from 2-6.
On your turn, you may either buy or sell.
To buy, simply choose a card from the bottom of one of the five columns, and pay face value for it. For example, if it has a numerical value of “3,” you’ll pay $3 to the bank. You can buy any color, any numerical value, as long as you have the money to pay for it. Place this card in front of you; it’s now yours.
To sell, you must choose two cards of the same color from your supply (i.e., cards that you bought on previous turns). You’ll turn these cards in to the “bank” and collect money. To find out how much money you collect, simply multiply the numerical values of the two cards together. For example, if you turn in a blue 3 and a blue 6, you’ll collect $18 from the bank.
Each player is also given a wild card which they may use once during the game, combining it with another card of any color when they’re ready to sell.
That’s it! The game ends when you’re down to only two columns of available stock cards. Each player makes one final sale, and then adds up their money. The player with the most money wins.
C. really enjoys playing Ka-Ching! with me, and I like it too. Not only does it play quickly and give kids a chance to learn how to develop some strategy (biding their time, trying to buy the high-value cards so they can cash in on a big profit), but it’s also a sneaky way to reinforce some multiplication facts. But shhh!! Don’t tell C. that part.
Does Ka-Ching! sound like a game you’d like to play? Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win! I’ll choose a winner Saturday, August 2nd. Please be sure your comment provides an easy way for me to contact you (preferably via email). U.S. mailing addresses only, please.
To visit the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, click HERE. To read more of my game reviews, click HERE.
Jul 25, 2008
Itchin’ for a Fight
written by katrina · 18 Comments
It’s funny how I can read a verse, chapter, or book of the Bible, and discover things that I never noticed before. Recently, Ecclesiastes 7:9 jumped out at me:
Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,
For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
That first line, in particular, really got to me. Do not be eager in your heart to be angry. In other words, Don’t go lookin’ for a fight.
It usually takes a lot of provocation to get me angry. It’s not that I’m exceedingly patient and kind so much as that I just don’t get worked up over too many things. But, like everyone else, I have my hot button issues, situations, and people.
Maybe it’s that certain someone who always seems to say something that irritates me. Rather than starting each conversation with renewed grace and a willingness to give the benefit of the doubt, I go into every encounter just waiting for them to say something that will bug me.
Maybe it’s being in the car. While not subject to Road Rage, I am guilty of significant Road Annoyance, ready to mentally pounce on anyone with less-than-admirable driving habits.
Or maybe I just didn’t sleep well last night, and I start my day with that don’t-mess-with-me look, daring family members to push me over the edge. You know, a Go Ahead, Make My Day kind of scenario.
Lookin’ for a fight.
Yeah, it’s not so pretty when I let the Bible act as a mirror to my heart. Even though I wouldn’t think of myself as having an “anger problem,” I have plenty of work to do.
A few ways to avoid being “eager in my heart to be angry”?
- Pray for others. It’s much harder to get angry with people when I’ve been praying for them. That means praying for the people I already know, but it could also mean praying for the people driving down the road in front of me.
- Keep reading from that mirror otherwise known as the Bible. It will remind me of adjustments needed and point me in the right direction.
- Practice gratitude. When I’m focused on all the blessings I’ve been given, those fights I might go looking for will fade to insignificance.
Jul 24, 2008
A post that is not a post
written by katrina · 4 Comments
I would have had a post for today, except C. and I spent most of last evening playing with a computer game I downloaded: Spore Creature Creator.
If you’re looking for something to entertain your kids for a while, go download it. From what I gather, there’s a video game coming out in September called Spore, which has you make creatures and set them free in an environment to see how they survive. That’s all I know about it, so I can’t endorse or criticize it.
BUT, they’ve released this Creature Creator in advance — a little program that let’s kids create bizarre dinosaur-type creatures. They can add features, paint them, take pictures of them, and even — C.’s favorite part — animate them while “filming.” The program creates a movie of their animation, which C. finds totally cool. (That’s one of my creations up there.)
Anyway, the download is free. You can upgrade for $10 in order to get more features to add to your creatures, but we had plenty of fun with the free version.
That ends this completely un-paid advertisement.
But while I’m telling you about things…
5 Minutes for Books (an awesome new site managed by my good friend, Jennifer) will be hosting a monthly carnival-type event called What’s on Your Nightstand? You can click Here for all the details, but the general idea is to share what you’re reading a why. It will be held the last Tuesday of each month and the first one is next week, July 29th. Hope to see you there!
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