Books and Creativity

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. I've now finished Gail Riplinger's book "New Age Bible Versions" and have already ordered 2 more to give to specific people as 'gifts', as well as ordering 4 other of her books to read and learn from! I am so glad to have finally read this book. A friend of mine was reading it back in 1999 and was telling me all the exciting things she was learning, but I never did get a copy for myself. Looking back at my Christian life, I have been very blessed, in many ways of course, but specifically with a good King James foundation. The first Bible I was given was a KJV, I have always been in churches that were King James only, and my brother (who teaches me a lot!) happened to go to a Bible college whose name is synonymous with King James 'onlyism', so I've been taught from the start how the King James is THE authorized word of God. But what's more important than doing the right thing, is knowing WHY those things are right. So it's always good to learn more and "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" IPet 3:15a
I've also just finished a biography written by Trudie Neighbour called "Lord, Help!". This was an amazing account of God's faithfulness and protection to those who are willing to obey him. Mrs. Neighbour and her husband were missionaries in Columbia in the early 1950's, and this book is an exciting account of their adventures and the amazing things that God brought to pass. It's a great read!!
I also read stories to my children, and this evening began our journey through a book called "Created for Work" by Bob Schultz. It's written to encourage hard work... with JOY "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Col 3:23 The author wrote this more towards boys and young men, but I know that my daughter and I will also benefit from it. The first chapter has already helped!

My children have once again amazed me this week with their creativity. My daughter's birthday is almost 3 months away, but like most children, she's already giving me her "wish list". Some of the items she's mentioned to me I know are just whims that will pass quickly; things that I won't be purchasing for her. Things like, an artist's easel with a palette for paint. She wanted one of these so bad this week, that she decided she couldn't wait, so she made one herself! And like I predicted, she played with it for one afternoon, and that was the end of that. But, she used her imagination and it didn't cost us any money either! Then, she decided that she wanted a baby cradle for her doll. Again, she didn't want to wait, so she invented one out of things around the house... problem solved. Then yesterday she wanted a shopping cart for her play food. So, she rummaged through our stash of cardboard boxes (lots of internet shopping ;) and found the perfect one for her needs. Then she decided that it really needed a seat in the front for her baby doll. So, she told me exactly where to cut, and how to put it all together, and this is what she came up with....
She used her engineering little mind to figure out a way to keep that little seat suspended at the top of the box. And then of course she and her little brother proceeded to play grocery store the rest of the day. Tonight they decided that they really needed a cheese grater for their pretend cheese. So they got the right size piece of cardboard, and had my husband drill holes all over it... voila! I love their creativity!!

Today we decided to go to the park for some fun time in the beautiful weather. We let the kids play on the playground for a while, and then we decided they needed to burn off a little more energy before we could leave. So we had them race to a far away tree and back a couple of times through the open grassy area. The winner... got a piggy back ride to the car on the best piggy, Daddy! The loser.... also got a piggy back ride to the car, but on the not so fast piggy, Mommy. I think they both enjoyed their 'prizes'! I was raised on the reward=food system, and I try really hard not to get my kids tangled up in those food issues.
When we all got buckled up in the car and were ready to head back home, my husband decided to jump out with no explanation and cross the road to the median. He came back in a minute with a pretty red rose that he picked for me! Awww--- He loves me!!