Book Review: "Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention"

Dear friends,

The following review was written by my 13 year old daughter, who LOVED the book! She is an aspiring writer, herself, and I think she does a great job with her review.

Several of my other children also read this book and really enjoyed it, as well. I can't recommend this kind of family-friendly, fun, and exciting reading enough to other families. Happy reading!!! 

{Disclaimer: We received an Advance Reader Copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions presented in this post are our family's own. ~Mama Rachel}

Book Review on 

Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention

By Dierdre K--

The book "Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention" by J. Scott Savage to me is an amazing piece of work. It has adventure, discovery, teamwork, humor, family, creativity, and invention.

This book is about a thirteen year old boy named Trenton Coleman who enjoys machinery. But in Cove, (a steam-powered city inside a mountain) they consider anything new, or improved a crime and therefore “invention” is a curse word.

Trenton meets a girl named Kallista Babbage, the daughter of Leo Babbage who perished in an explosion.

They soon work together and learn that Kallista’s father was working on a secret project before he died. They follow what clues he left behind, and begin to piece together a strange machine that is unlike anything they’ve known. Discovering that what they built may be a threat to what all of Cove is founded on--and maybe even their very lives.

As part of my review, I would say this book is very well written, and very engaging. I could hardly put the book down as I read. I kept telling myself, just one more chapter.

A quote in this that stuck out to me was, “All this time, I’ve been thinking that I needed things--objects--to remember him by. Now that they’re gone, I realize I don’t need his books or tools. I have my memories of him. And he gave me the gift of flight and knowledge. No one take those things from me. Thank you for helping me realize that.”

One thing in this is I love how Trenton’s relationship with his mother grows stronger, and she comes understand his love for mechanics. Family is most important and this book shows it.

Love, Mama Rachel

Now We Are Six!

"When I was one, I had just begun.

When I was two, I was nearly new.

When I was three, I was hardly me.

When I was four, I was not much more. 

When I was five, I was just alive.

But, now I am six. I'm as clever as clever. I think I'll be six now, forever and ever."

~A.A. Milne

Dear ones,

Avalon turned SIX YEARS OLD last Thursday, and had a good birthday celebration, I think. She got a Tinkerbell barbie, new shoes, birthday money from Grandma, an adorable Cinderella apron from Granna, and lots of fun, little things that little girls like-- especially when it's from the movie "Frozen."

Avalon-- I mean, Cinderella

Avalon danced, and giggled, and sang all day long. Oh the joy of being SIX! She told me that she was just like Eloise-- except not naughty. Hee!

I was good and did not comment...

Bonny made her a beautiful snowflake cake ala "Elsa", and we had a nice time together as a family.

We finished reading "A Wrinkle in Time" out loud as a family. And Mom cried, of course. We just started "Howl's Moving Castle" and are reading our Christmas stories aloud every night. Daddy is looking forward to reading "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" aloud, though I am pulling for "A Christmas Carol," since we never got to that one last year.

This week will be hectic, with Christmas parties, a house inspection, Dad's birthday, and comings and goings of all kinds.

Big brothers make great airplanes.

Lliam's new job at --- is working well, and he enjoys it. It's been very busy there, because of all the Christmas shoppers. Lliam works the register and also helps unload the truck when it comes in. 

Bonny got a new REGULAR job last week! YAY! She has started working as a "mother's helper" for a lady in our ward that lives down the street. She does a bit of everything; babysitting, laundry, cleaning, helping where she's needed. She works there for 3 hours each on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. She still teaches ballet on Tuesdays, and attends dance and ballroom dance classes at --- on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. (There's a new building over by us, now. It's nice!) And she studies and does all her school work beautifully!

She is a responsible, organized girl, or she never could manage everything on her plate. She has big plans for attending BYU, and she is working hard to get there. I'm starting to miss her already!

Dierdre is on fire with family history work, and does some indexing every day. And she loves Pinterest, too. ;-) She is working hard in her Key of Liberty class, and is also doing well in my English Literature class. She has some adorable little friends in Beehives with her, and is really coming into her own. She and Bonny are best buddies, and talk and giggle for hours.

Gavin is going crazy with programming-- he LOVES it! And he is catching the indexing bug, too. He is our resident math guru, and loves taking his turn on the computer so he can do math and programming. And he's GOOD. Dad is taking him under his wing, and helping him understand anything he doesn't pick up on. He is moving at a tremendous pace, and I think Daddy is glad to have another programmer in the house. :-D

Ronan is busy taking everything apart that he can get his hands on. Unfortunately, he can't always put it back together! Last night, he figured out how to make a homemade machine work with wires and batteries. But then he got shocked a bit. Luckily, Dad stopped him before he tried to open up an old computer monitor. Those are dangerous; even Dad doesn't mess with them. He is also still Lego crazy, and designs and builds new things all the time.

Sleeping Beauties

MacKenna is reading so beautifully. She reads aloud to me from the Book of Mormon every night, and I can see her improvement every day.

Grayse is becoming quite the artist. She's really good! And she LOVES baby Fiona, and carries her all around the house.

Eryn is growing up so fast. She is doing better about sucking her fingers, but when she gets sleepy, she still can't seem to help it. It's so cute; when Fiona cries, Eryn will come running with her blanket to try to soothe her. LOL!

Davy boy is so excited about EVERYTHING, especially about getting into mischief. He adores Fiona, but sometimes loves on her a bit too much-- which she does not appreciate.

He talks up a storm, and has the clearest little voice. Now, if we could get him to stop screaming: in happiness, enthusiasm, frustration, for anything! It's cute, but only for so long. And he inherited that piercing, ear-splitting scream that Gavin used to have and the little girls all have.

"Oh, the noise, noise, noise, NOISE!" ;-)

Big sisters like to dress up babies

Fiona is now CRAWLING. She is also an expert in her baby walker, and loves to talk, sing, and bang on everything. She is constantly making sounds to match the kids. She will try whatever sounds those around her are making. She will be an early talker, for sure.

We love you all!!! We wish you the peace, love and joy of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We are so grateful for Him and his beautiful example, teachings, and sacrifice.

We have so many reasons to rejoice!!! We hope you are all having a lovely Christmas season, and that you feel the Savior's love every day.

Love, Mama Rachel

Book Review: Blackmoore

{Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions presented in this post are my very own. ~Mama Rachel}

I was excited to have the opportunity to review this book! There are so few books written by modern authors that I enjoy, and so I was looking forward to finding something new to read that is also clean and uplifting.

I wish I could honestly say that my high expectations were met, but unfortunately, being a frequent reader of classic literature has probably spoiled me.

One of my pet peeves of modern, historical fiction is that most, if not all, of these stories are inundated with modern sensibilities that simply did not exist in the past. Of course, I know the reason that the writers of today make this choice, (I believe it's an attempt to help modern readers "relate" better to the characters and their world) but I have not been able to find a way to keep it from ruining the reading experience for me, personally. I subscribe to the school of thought that says that in order for modern readers to understand the past, they need to be immersed in it, rather than expecting the past to change to meet their understanding.

Examples of how the book's modern lens distracted and disappointed me:

• The heroine ogling her romantic interest's body. More than once.
• How difficult it was to relate to, understand, or even LIKE the heroine.
• The outlandish actions of the heroine's mother, knowing that she never would have been tolerated in society at that day and age.

The author is a fine writer, but the story was also fairly disjointed, and it did not hold my interest. I had to FORCE myself to return to the book several times.

Unfortunately, after reading this modern take on a historical romance, I feel the need to read an Austen novel, or something by the Bronte sisters. I honestly cannot recommend that my readers waste their time reading Blackmoore-- immerse yourself in a wonderful classic, instead!

Love, Mama Rachel

Homeschool: Sharing "What's Mine"

Mom, sharing what she loves!

First, and foremost, our homeschool does not look like public school.

Surprise!

Why not?

Because we live there, we pray there, we play there, we LOVE there. Our focus is on the "Home" part of the word, not the "School" part.

Our home is a Home of Learning.

The picture above is a photo one of my kids took during our school time. I was busy sharing "what's mine."

What's "what's mine?"

"What's mine" is a term my friend and author (who happens to also be a homeschooling mom), Rachel DeMille, uses to explain what she teaches to her children. Basically, "what's mine" includes the things I, as their mother, want them to know and understand.

Every few months, I sit down and I plan what I want to present to my children. I use a four year rotation as a personal preference, just because I know that if I don't plan, I forget what I want to share. It's just how my brain works, so I've learned to accept and embrace who I am and how I function.

(I also adore making spreadsheets. It's a disease, really, but thankfully it's been a useful one...)

Every day, my kids clean, cook, study the Gospel, do math exercises and read. Those are the basics around here. Then during our "school time," I share the other things I want them to learn.

• Mondays we clean the house and I have Mentor Meetings with our scholar kids (12 and older). 
• Tuesdays we go to our Commonweralth School classes (see more about that here: tjla.net)
• Wednesdays we study history together.
• Thursdays we learn about music. (Composers and music theory lessons)
• Friday is our science day.

Four Year Plan

Because there are so many things to learn under each general subject, I put them on a four year rotation to be more organized. Here's what that looks like:

Year One

• Gospel: Old Testament & Pearl of Great Price; 
• History: Ancient
• Science: Chemistry

Year Two

• Gospel: New Testament
• History: Modern World
• Science: Biology

Year Three

• Gospel: Book of Mormon
• History: Geography
• Science: Physics

Year Four

• Gospel: Doctrine & Covenants/Church History
• History: United States
• Science: Astronomy & Earth Science

We are currently on Year Four.

Learning Resources

Obviously, we have a variety of ages and levels in our family. But we use materials that all can understand, and that are more hands-on and fun. Then the older kids can go in more depth on their own-- which they do.   A great resource for more in-depth, advanced learning that we frequently use is Khan Academy. (Our scholars do more advanced math there, as well.)

We also have a MULTITUDE of books the kids can read, too-- especially for history, which I think is one of the most important subjects anyone can know! 

Here's one of the great resources we are using for our U.S. History studies this year:

Found at Deseret Book

For Science, we are using this awesome book:

Found at Latter-Day Family Resources

For our music study, we read about a composer, listen to his music, and then we learn a little about music theory. My favorite composer book is this one:

Also from LDFR

We also read aloud as a family-- one of the most important things we do for our learning AND our family culture. Right now, we are reading this:

From Deseret Book

(And it's AWESOME!!!)

How much time?

Our "school time" is not very long-- about an hour, sometimes an hour and a half. Then the big kids go off and study on their own, and the little ones play. The middle ones are always working on some project or another. Those projects are usually hands-on, and often messy, but they have a lot of fun learning!

A lot of time is also spent cleaning, organizing, cooking, and fixing things. I believe that ALL of life is learning, and the practical life skills we all need are a major focus of "what's mine." 

HOME-school

I hope this little glimpse into our homeschool day might help others see that homeschool does not need to look like public school. I always try to remember that we are running a HOME, first and foremost. The rest happens organically.

I am so grateful for the freedom to teach my children the things that Heavenly Father wants me to teach them! I could not do any of it without Divine Inspiration. So, in reality, when I'm teaching "what's mine," I'm also teaching "what's His."

Love, Mama Rachel

Book Review: "The Inventor's Secret"

I was so grateful to get a chance to pre-read this great book-- the first in a series of family-friendly adventures. It came out on March 5th, and I'm so excited to share my review with all my readers!

The story is about twins Abby and Derick, grandchildren of famous inventor, who are entering an exclusive, new school called "Cragbridge Hall." The innovative lessons at the school immerse the students in learning in amazing ways! While Derick is confident and ready for any challenge, Abby deals with feeling inadequate and unworthy to attend the exciting, advanced school named after her grandfather.

As the students settle in to their new surroundings, tragedy strikes and the twins have to face their dangerous, new challenges with courage-- something that seems easy for Derick, but daunting for Abby. The twins need help, but don't know who to trust. Who will help them face this dangerous struggle?

I really love that the book is written for a younger audience! The danger the characters found themselves in was real, but not too graphic or frightening for children. Even though things were toned down for the younger readers, it was still exciting and engaging enough for adults and teens. This is a BIG plus for me, as we like to read books like this out loud as a family, and I really appreciate not needing to "edit" out the really scary stuff while I read!

The author is great at engaging EVERYONE in my family-- and we have listeners from adult down to toddlers. His use of humorous dialogue kept us laughing out loud, and the fascinating inventions used in the school were easy to picture and marvel at. Now we all want to learn history in 3-D!

I also really enjoyed and appreciated the author's use of great people and events thoughout history. There were several historical personalities and events we were completely unaware of-- and this book made us all curious to find out more about them! (This homeschooling mom LOVES books that do that!) We found ourselves almost as immersed in history as the students of Cragbridge Hall. It was awesome!

My favorite part of the book is how we were able to relate to the character of Abby. She embodies human feelings of inadequacy so well! And yet, she finds that her love for others gives her the strength to do extraordinary things. This was a great lesson for myself, personally, and for my children, as well.

We love this book at our house! It is a great adventure story that kept us all engaged and excited to read. It also teaches some great lessons and made us thirst for more knowledge about great people and places. This mama gives it five stars and two big "thumbs up." I know my readers will love it as much as my family did. We look forward to the next book in the series!

{Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions presented in this post are my very own. :-) }

Love, Mama Rachel

We Interrupt this Blog...

Me at age 2

 ... to join a blog party I'm way late for.

But I'm posting about it anyway.

The question Cocoa put to her readers was this:

What fictional character do you identify the most with?

Because I am generally indecisive and because I like waay too many characters and read waaaaaaaay too many books, I cannot answer this question with a single character. So here are my top seven. 

Yes, seven. Ten is too many, but five is too little.

(See? Indecisive.)

Some of these characters are warnings for me to not give into my bad tendencies and habits. (I think I'll start with the bad ones.) 

7) Mrs. Jellyby (from Bleak House by Charles Dickens) 
 I include Mrs. Jellyby here as number seven because she is the one I dislike the most, and yet find I have to constantly work at not being more like her. She is my "id," you might say. She spends so much time working hard on her pet "cause" that she no longer sees or concerns herself with the needs in her own home. Yeah. Not a happy thought. But she reminds me that I need to truly see what is of most importance in my life.

 "We passed several more children on the way up, whom it was difficult to avoid treading on in the dark; and as we came into Mrs. Jellyby's presence, one of the poor little things fell down-stairs-- down a whole flight (as it sounded to me), with a great noise."

"Mrs. Jellyby, whose face showed none of the uneasiness which we could not help showing in our own faces, as the dear child's head recorded its passage with a bump on every stair... received us with perfect equanimity. She was a pretty, very diminutive, plump woman, of from forty to fifty, with handsome eyes, though they had a curious habit of seeming to look a long way off. As if... they could see nothing nearer than Africa!"

6) Mrs. Bennett (from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
 Poor Mrs. Bennett. No one seems to understand her! Unfortunately, I do far too often. Luckily, I am married to a husband who loves me even when I channel her silliness and laziness from time to time. (He's actually a lot like Mr. Darcy, but I'm no Elizabeth.) Oh, and I also can go from depressed and crestfallen to giddy and silly in an instant.

"Ah! you do not know what I suffer."

 5) Molly Weasley (from the Harry Potter series)
 I share many attributes with Molly Weasley. I have a large family that I like to fuss over. We don't have a lot of money in our family, but we do have a lot of love. I like to cook for and feed an army of teenage boys, I worry about my children and my husband, and I do tend to yell more often than I should. All that's missing is the red hair and her immense knitting talents. Oh, and the magic thing.

"You'd best hope I don't put bars on your window, Ronald Weasley."

"Where Have You Been?!"

4) Sophie Hatter (from Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones)
 I have to re-read this book at least once a year, but it's usually more like every six months. I don't know that I can accurately explain why I love this book so much. I think a big part of it is that I've always wanted to be beautiful, but never really ever have been. I mean, I'm fine with how I look, but somedays I feel like young Sophie burdened with a magical spell that makes her look and feel like an old woman. (Why would the handsome Howl ever think of her?)

She's also the oldest of her sisters and has always carried the burden and responsibility of being the strong one who needs to make everything good and happy for everyone-- even if that means sacrificing herself. I adore Sophie because she finally breaks out and stands up for herself once no one knows who she really is. And because she doesn't ever realize how very talented with magic she is in her own right.

 ""It's just a tantrum,' Sophie said. Martha and Lettie were good at having tantrums too. She knew how to deal with those. On the other hand, it is quite a risk to spank a wizard for getting hysterical about his hair. Anyway, Sophie's experience told her that tantrums are seldom about the thing they appear to be about."

"She stumped into the bathroom and stared at her withered old face in the mirrors. She picked up one of the packets labeled SKIN and then tossed it down again. Even young and fresh, she did not think her face compared particularly well with Miss Angorian's."

3) Anne Shirley (from the Anne of Green Gables series)
 I know, I know. So many young girls identify with Anne, but so do I. (I especially love Anne's adventures as a parent and adult in the later books.) When I was a child, my vivid imagination got me in to lots of trouble. And I am flighty and easily distracted by lovely thoughts and wild stories in my mind. I am stubborn and determined, digging in my heels even when what I am rebelling against is not the best thing for me. Oh, and I am a pretty big drama queen!

 "The downfall of some dear hope or plan plunged Anne into 'deeps of affliction.' The fulfillment thereof exalted her to dizzy realms of delight."

"There is a book of Revelation in every one's life, as there is in the Bible.Anne read hers that bitter night, as she kept her agonized vigil through the hours of storm and darkness. She loved Gilbert-- had always loved him! She knew that now. She knew that she could no more cast him out of her life without agony than she could have cut off her right hand and cast it from her. And the knowledge had come too late-- too late even for the bitter solace of being with him at the last."

2) Clare Peggotty (from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens)
 I love Peggotty! She is kind, but strict, and loyal to a fault. I have often caused myself trouble and headache because of my dedication and loyalty to those I love, though I've never had to endure some of the things dear Peggotty had to go through. I hope to be a solid, and strong, and as dependable as she was!

"'My own!' said Peggotty, with infinite compassion. 'What I want to say is. That you must never forget me. For I'll never forget you. And I'll take as much care of your mama, Davy. As ever I took of you. And I won't leave her. The day may come when she'll be glad to lay her poor head. On her stupid, cross old Peggotty's arm again. And I'll write to you, my dear. though I ain't no scholar. And I'll-- I'll--' Peggotty fell to kissing the keyhole, as she couldn't kiss me."

1) Pollyanna (from Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter)
 I have always been a wide-eyed Pollyanna. I love to talk, and I love people, and I want to believe the best of everyone. And I like to be hyper and cheerful, though I often annoy the daylights out of many. I don't think before I act, and I make all kinds of mistakes and silly assumptions. I want to be happy, and I want to make as many people happy as I can. (Which also can get me into trouble, too. I have a hard time realizing that I can never please everyone!) But I am glad to be "a Pollyanna."

"...I love folks so I just can't help it! I saw you from my window, Aunt Polly, and I got to thinking how you weren't a Ladies' Aider, and you were my really truly aunt. And you looked so good I just had to come down and hug you!"

"A little later Pollyanna and the minister descended the hill, hand in hand. Pollyanna's face was radiant. Pollyanna loved to talk, and she had been talking now for some time."

Thanks for letting me indulge in a bit of introspection. So fun!

What literary characters do YOU identify with the most???

Fifteen Fictional Characters

Bonny, reading a favorite story

 A friend of mine tagged me in a note on Facebook, and it was a really great exercise for me to do, as well. As I was writing my answers, I realized how true the old adage "You are what you read," has been in my life.

The exercise also reminded me how CAREFUL and PURPOSEFUL we should be in the books and works we expose ourselves and our families to. I am so grateful that my mother set an example of not just reading often, but that what she read was "virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy." I hope I am setting a similar example to my children.

*PLEASE NOTE: All of the characters below are fictional. Of course, my life has been hugely influenced by the people in scriptures, and by other great men and women throughout time. This list is one of fictional characters only. And I believe that fiction has much to teach us about the truths of life, families, goodness, wickedness, wisdom and intelligence. I believe that reading fiction is VITAL to learning and knowledge.

Here are the Fifteen Fictional Characters that have strongly influenced-- and continue to influence-- my life and heart.


1) Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre
I first read this when I was fourteen years old, and I believe it helped me form my ideals for love, marriage, and putting God above all. I wept and RAN from Thornfield with Jane. And because she could withstand even the pleading of her true love and move on to do what was right, I knew that I could do what is right against all odds, too. 

2) Beth from Little Women
My cousin (Hi Michelle!) and I were about ten when we read this book separately, and then we both cried over Beth together! Beth was always so concerned about everyone else, and never once thought of herself. She was the ultimate example of Christlike love and caring for me at that young age, and she continues to teach me how to put my wishes and wants last on the list today. 

3) Bishop Monseigneur Bienvenu from Les Miserables
The purposefully-destitute Bishop (because he gives all that he owns to the poor) shows me how much God values each of his children-- even those who rebel and revile against Him. To have the convict Jean Val Jean come to him begging for a bed and food, to give him all, and then to have Valjean steal some of the only things of value he owns, I was sure his greatest gift to Valjean was to forgive him and spare Valjean from being sent back to prison. But when he gives him the candlesticks also, I stand in awe. "Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul I am buying for you." 

4) Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables
Anne has always been huge in my life, not just because she makes me smile, but because SHE IS ME. Overactive imagination, clumsiness, silliness, sentimental, goofy, scattered, vain, and ALL. Luckily, I had "a Matthew", too. (My wonderful mother!)

5) Meg from A Wrinkle in Time
Poor Meg was a square peg that just could never fit in the round hole everyone tried to shove her in to. Everyone, except her wonderful family, that is. I related to Meg from the moment she entered my world. My Fourth Grade teacher, Mrs. Oler, introduced us. And while I loved the magical Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, it was Meg who brought me along to tesser beside her. From her glasses, to her awkwardness, and then to the fierce love and protection she felt for her little brother, she made me believe I might actually have potential, too. (Though not in math-- yet!)

6) Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings trilogy
Sam feels like the older brother I never had in my family. I consider him the REAL hero of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. His unflinching loyalty, his tenacity, his charity, his soft heart, his wise mind, his humility, his simplicity, his strength. This is just a short list. If you want to know ALL the reasons why I love him so, go back and read the books. You'll find out pretty quickly.

7) Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird
Scout is who I think my little Southern Granny was when she was child. I remember her telling me how she liked to climb trees and pick watermelons with the boys-- especially with her big brother, Wade. She's also told me how she was "mean as a snake" and "so naughty" when she was growing up. Now that Granny is old and living in the world of full-blown dementia, thinking about Scout makes me a little sad, and yet makes me appreciate the Granny I knew. I bet Granny would have taken Boo Radley by the hand, too. ("Hey, Boo!")

8) Miss Betsey Trotwood from David Copperfield
I ADORE Miss Betsey Trotwood!!! At first, I was terrified of her, just like David's mother was. But the way she gathers, cares for, and nurtures the "lost boys" around her (Mr. Dick and David) absolutely melts my heart. And no one else could tell those horrible Murdstones off better than Miss Trotwood! "Let me see you ride a donkey over my green again, and as sure as you have a head upon your shoulders, I'll knock your bonnet off, and tread upon it!"

9) Lucie Manette from Tale of Two Cities
Getting to know Lucie Manette literally changed my life for good. She didn't tell me, she SHOWED me, the very real POWER there is in feminine nurturing. I wrote a paper on what Lucie taught me. If you're interested, you can find it on my "Old-Fashioned Motherhood" blog here: http://blog.oldfashionedmotherhood.com/2007/07/lessons-from-great-literature.html

10) Mrs. Jellyby from Bleak House
Mrs. Jellyby provides the perfect example of what happens to me and my family when I put too many people, activities, and causes above my husband, children and home. Oh. My. DISASTER. I have to go back and re-familiarize  myself with Mrs. J. every so often in order to keep my priorities straight. She's a powerful reminder for me.  

11) Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare's Macbeth
This is another negative example I use to keep myself in check. Lady Macbeth was The Champion of All Wifely Nagging. And I do NOT want to end up like her. The end.

12) Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle
Sophie is the reason I read this book over and over and over again. I have the same kind of heart Sophie does, I'm also the eldest child, and I also have a tendency to be hard on myself, with a propensity for missing the forest for the trees. Plus, I have a secret wish to be able to sew life into the things I create. (How useful would THAT be in my Shakespeare plays?!) Oh, and Sophie and Howl interact in a similar way to my husband and I. (I'm married to Howl. Shhh!) 

13) Heidi from Heidi
Heidi is so pure and trusting, and changed everyone around her just by living JOYFULLY. I loved my childhood, and I can go back and be a child again when I see life through Heidi's eyes. She teaches me to be more grateful and to see everything with wonder and love.

14) Mrs. Stanton from Laddie
Mrs. Stanton changed my life as a mother and homemaker. I learned from her that children need to be taught, trained, and trusted. I love how she was feminine and tender, supporting and loving her husband with all her heart. And yet, I love how strongly and fiercely she defends her family, truth, and the Lord above. Her influence reverberated through everything her children did, and almost every word they uttered. And if their mother was sick, everyone clamored to make things just right for her. I'm working to be more like her every day.

15) Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" from Understood Betsy
Betsy's experiences with her uncle and aunt remind me that "I CAN do hard things" if I will only gather up my courage and TRY.

So, I Finally Read It...

Yes, that book that all Mormon Mommies seem to be gaga over-- "Twilight."

My sweet husband brought it home for me last week, since we decided that going to see the movie without reading the book first would be completely out of character for us both. What can I say-- we need a good date movie once in a while, and there's been a drought in the new releases department for a loooong time now...

But I digress.

I've actually been following news about Stephenie Meyer for a while now, because I'm fascinated that she was published so quickly, even though "Twilight" was her first attempt. And while her writing isn't great, her storytelling really draws the reader in. And that's a talent I'm working to improve. Other intriguing things about Stephenie include the fact that she's a little LDS mommie (like me) who wrote a very successful book series in very little time, and with no training (ahem, me again), and that she lives in AZ, which is where I live, too.

Confession: I actually went to her website and read the transcript for "Midnight Sun" long before I ever picked up her first book. (And I do think her writing is getting better!)

So, to review "Twilight" itself, these are my thoughts:

• I am glad I did not read this book as a teenager. I would have had an even more distorted view of what boys/men are like by the time I was married, and it was bad enough as it was! (Dang, all those Jack Weyland books!)
• To be honest, my sweet DH was hoping for what I call the "Twilight Effect", where I romatically meet him at the door when he comes home from work, after reading all about Edward and his "Adonis-ness". Hmmm. What actually happened was that I came to him exclaiming that I am relieved to be married to Mr. Darcy, and don't have all the pressure of trying to live up to-- well, "Adonis-ness." *grin* (GO TEAM DARCY!!!)
• I am encouraging my daughters to avoid reading the series until they, too, are married. One daughter in particular is waaaay too impressionable, and still hopes that Daniel Radcliff will be available in five or six years (or more). I'm still trying to find a way to tell her that he performed in the buff on Broadway and that I really wouldn't care for him as a son-in-law-- and that it's not likely that he'll be temple-worthy anytime in the near future...

So, all in all I'm glad I read the book before I see the movie; I'm looking forward to a lovely date night with hubby this weekend; and the jury is still out as to whether or not I'll finish the series.

(Oh, and I hope to still learn a lot about writing and publishing from Stephenie Meyer's example, so I, too, can one day finish my work-in-progress and be a rich and successful writer. She has given me hope!!! :-D )

Okay, Twilight fans, hit me with your best shot... *wink* (And see you at the movie this weekend! *hee*)